War is the glue that binds America together and over-hyped talk of war is what deflects American's concentration on issues here at home and Trump's legal and ethical problems. It's a sideshow.
12
Being smart and being strong do not have to be mutually exclusive. I hope.
5
There will always be bad people with bombs and threats to civilization. Electing Trump and his side-kick Bannon, who want to tear everything down, was the most irresponsible thing American voters could do. Now we're in it whether we voted for him or not. All of the warnings that this would happen went unheeded. So many people are now opposed to Trump that conservative states are either voting out their conservative Congressman or giving the GOP a good run for their money. Sane people know with a little wisdom and caution you can live in a dangerous world. Sane people know how to pick their battles, and in the end Trump will be gone. He will end up like Bush, closeted in some compound and no one will ever want to see him or listen to him again. Somehow we just have to get there with as little damage to the world and as little loss of life as possible.
21
We simply can't risk North Korea successfully completing their nuclear dreams and this may be our last window of opportunity to stop them. Even if you don't trust Trump, I think his military advisors will be smart and rational, and I believe this could be just what it takes for China for once step up and even help oust Kim Jong-un. Obama's do-nothing inaction may have may averted a catastrophe during is tenure, but it was irresponsible to simply sit by and let North Korea get stronger.
as long as China 'feels' more-threatened by the West, South Korea and Japan,
North Korea will be allowed to 'remain' as a buffer-of-sorts to protect its homeland.
after all,
the u.s. went ballistic (pun intended) when a perceived "threat" was within 90-miles of ocean of its borders.
China,
meanwhile alone in this current world,
"shares" its present physical border with 22 other 'nation-states'.
does the u.s. have any capacity whatsoever to comprehend their worries and needs?
this is not an apologia of any sort for China and its many dastardly warts,
just a sort-of reality-check that is seldom seen in the NYT.
we must deal with the hand that we have been dealt,
not just simply wish-it-away or deny its intrinsic importance in the bigger picture.
what can the West "offer" to China that will allow it to back-off from
its direct financial support and survival of North Korea?
and,
what exactly,
does a 'future' without a North Korea look and act like?
saber rattling can only proceed so far,
and the new administration has a top heavy military
helping to create its diplomacy.
on the other side,
Kim Jong-un can only use his nukes once,
and has almost nothing-to-lose in continuing his threats to do so.
this overall dynamic has many endings that are not well for any of us.
great care and caution is highly recommended in these many unwanted circumstances.
further,
short of an untenable conclusion,
we are likely to continue to face these difficulties well after 2020.
grrrr
2
The New York Times' Presidium wouldn't show any difference whether Trump talked the Chinese and North Koreans into disarmament talks or initiated a thermonuclear exchange with both at the same time along with an invasion from Mars.
No matter who happened, the Times would be here printing maybe a dozen attack stories about the American President anyway. He could now shoot somebody on whatever that street was now and it wouldn't be noticed here until you got into the small print.
No matter who happened, the Times would be here printing maybe a dozen attack stories about the American President anyway. He could now shoot somebody on whatever that street was now and it wouldn't be noticed here until you got into the small print.
3
Trump's posturing may be actually encouraging North Korea's boy dictator. While Trump is trying to provide a distraction from his Russia problems, he may be providing Kim Jung Un with some amusement. The big, tough USA is cowering over his bluster. Ironically, the kid and Trump have so much in common. They're both impulsive, immature, mean and totally unfit to rule.
why does he not do the same that Bush and Obama did and just give in to the man-child Kim?
1
Arthur Ding, a military expert based at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University, said North Korea used a military parade on Saturday to show the world that “there is no way to reverse its bomb and missile program now, because, like India and Pakistan, North Korea is a de facto nuclear state.”
Mr Ding said: “Politically, it somewhat implies that the DPRK should be treated fairly – if not equally – with that of other nuclear states.”
1994–“Agreed Framework” signed USA gave the Water to North Korea
1950s North Korea’s Nuclear programme begins
The Soviet Union assisted North Korea with its nascent nuclear energy programme.
Mr Ding said: “Politically, it somewhat implies that the DPRK should be treated fairly – if not equally – with that of other nuclear states.”
1994–“Agreed Framework” signed USA gave the Water to North Korea
1950s North Korea’s Nuclear programme begins
The Soviet Union assisted North Korea with its nascent nuclear energy programme.
1
Ah yes, the ongoing "Trump is doing it all wrong" editorial. The left must resist Trump by questioning his every move. What did Clinton do on North Korea (besides get hoodwinked)? What did Obama do?
All of the armchair foreign policy experts at the NY Times seem to have all of the answers. Meanwhile, despite all of the breathless concern on the part of the leftist media, Trump has stayed within the lines, showing firmness, but not craziness. I know the NY Times wants a fully detailed strategy, blessed by Democrats in Congress, but that's garbage. Trump already said he won't telegraph our moves. Why would you expect him to change that policy?
All of the armchair foreign policy experts at the NY Times seem to have all of the answers. Meanwhile, despite all of the breathless concern on the part of the leftist media, Trump has stayed within the lines, showing firmness, but not craziness. I know the NY Times wants a fully detailed strategy, blessed by Democrats in Congress, but that's garbage. Trump already said he won't telegraph our moves. Why would you expect him to change that policy?
6
I regard Mr. Trump as a loathsome character, and that's being charitable.
But I am appalled at the amount of misinformation -- which attempts to conflate his personal shortcomings with the nature of the challenge posed by North Korea -- in these comments.
North Korea does not yet have a "useable" nuclear bomb. Nor does it have the means to put a nuclear device atop a missile and fire it. It is striving for these capabilities to be sure, but does not yet possess them.
In other words, North Korea is not yet a nuclear power in the full sense of the word.
Why do so many people here think that North Korea has the ability to launch a nuclear weapon? Is it because of the hot air that Kim Jong-un has spewed forth for the last few years? This baseless and irrational fear serves as the launching pad for all sorts of silly comments about US intentions.
Moreover, why do some people commenting here think the US intends to launch a nuclear strike against North Korea? Does anyone really think that that is a possibility?
Nuclear weapons are not meant to be used. They are meant to deter others. It is not in the US national interest -- or that of China, Japan, or South Korea or Russia -- that NK acquire a nuclear capability.
Whatever his shortcomings, Mr. Trump is drawing a line in the sand, and I hope that he does not capitulate. If we do not act now to stem the NK threat, we will not be able to once they have developed the nuclear and missile capabilities they seek.
But I am appalled at the amount of misinformation -- which attempts to conflate his personal shortcomings with the nature of the challenge posed by North Korea -- in these comments.
North Korea does not yet have a "useable" nuclear bomb. Nor does it have the means to put a nuclear device atop a missile and fire it. It is striving for these capabilities to be sure, but does not yet possess them.
In other words, North Korea is not yet a nuclear power in the full sense of the word.
Why do so many people here think that North Korea has the ability to launch a nuclear weapon? Is it because of the hot air that Kim Jong-un has spewed forth for the last few years? This baseless and irrational fear serves as the launching pad for all sorts of silly comments about US intentions.
Moreover, why do some people commenting here think the US intends to launch a nuclear strike against North Korea? Does anyone really think that that is a possibility?
Nuclear weapons are not meant to be used. They are meant to deter others. It is not in the US national interest -- or that of China, Japan, or South Korea or Russia -- that NK acquire a nuclear capability.
Whatever his shortcomings, Mr. Trump is drawing a line in the sand, and I hope that he does not capitulate. If we do not act now to stem the NK threat, we will not be able to once they have developed the nuclear and missile capabilities they seek.
5
Trump--with his unique blend of the frightening, the cringeworthy and the darkly risible--inspires widespread unease.
Among America's adversaries, what could be more likely to inspire Schadenfreude than a buffoonish and impulsive U.S. Commander in Chief who, according to all polls, is in considerable disfavor among U.S. respondents?
Trump's unpredictability, coarseness, incompetence and buffoonery--especially when linked with the fact that he is in control of nuclear weapons--evoke many a nervous giggle.
To bad the Trump presidency isn't merely another reality TV show--it certainly very effectively presents itself as one.
Each of the President's public appearances and public utterances (always replete with his mangled use of the English language) strikes me as absurd--scary-be-very-afraid absurd.
Trump will not likely be remembered as a great American president but he has already carved his uniquely unsettlingly niche in U.S. presidential history.
Among America's adversaries, what could be more likely to inspire Schadenfreude than a buffoonish and impulsive U.S. Commander in Chief who, according to all polls, is in considerable disfavor among U.S. respondents?
Trump's unpredictability, coarseness, incompetence and buffoonery--especially when linked with the fact that he is in control of nuclear weapons--evoke many a nervous giggle.
To bad the Trump presidency isn't merely another reality TV show--it certainly very effectively presents itself as one.
Each of the President's public appearances and public utterances (always replete with his mangled use of the English language) strikes me as absurd--scary-be-very-afraid absurd.
Trump will not likely be remembered as a great American president but he has already carved his uniquely unsettlingly niche in U.S. presidential history.
4
I'm only 32 years old but consider myself a student of history. This developing crisis, and the recent referendum in Turkey, doesn't bold well for western civilization. It seems everyone is eager to let their nationalism (not patriotism!) shine and still have their cake, but that won't work out. If something happens, like a certain moment in history when an Archduke was shot, then WWIII is inevitable. Don't think that either China or Russia will stand idly by as our "so-called" president rattles his digital saber at a loose cannon. I curse the day people felt comfortable electing a man-child to office. May our children and grandchildren forgive us if such dark days come.
7
The only country to use atomic weapons & kill hundreds of thousands of people is our beloved USA. And I'm sure most thoughtful people think the next country to use nuclear weapons will also be our own gun-loving, arms-crazy, militaristic nation--obviously the true rogue nation of the 21st century with all its external regime-change violence against other states and its responsibility for hundreds and hundreds of thousands of needless deaths in the Middle East and elsewhere. Imagine how fearful people are that the US leaders have all these weapons of mass destruction and a population that approves of a president proud to order missile strikes that cost millions and accomplish absolutely nothing and who wants to spend huge new amounts on more and more nuclear weapons. Scary!
5
I don't understand this editorial. It's as though the editorial board has been in a coma for six months. Offering adult advice to an emotional infant like Trump is about as helpful as holding one's breath, clicking one's heels and wishing that Un would see reason. The best that the media could do would be to ignore the lunatic in the White House. Deny him whatever public microphone is possible and pray that someone with a modicum of sanity in this misbegotten administration will prevent the world from exploding in the next four years.
4
The Board doesn't know what to make of Trump. In fact, nobody has yet figured him out. But it is clear that he says inflammatory things at the drop of a hat and usually backs off. Trump cannot be taken literally. The prevailing pattern seems to be off the cuff statements that are extreme followed by more measured pronouncements.
We expect a President to speak with precision, with moderation, and with awareness of the effects of his words. We don't have a President like that. Trump doesn't speak with care at all. And expecting him to is futile. Things aren't as crazy as they seem when Trump first addresses a crisis. He is not as bad as his first pronouncements. After all, he hasn't taken the extraordinary steps that are suggested in his first tweets.
Trump is a different kind of President, one who wavers over time on matters of importance. He is difficult and maddening. But he is the President and so it is our burden to understand him. The Board doesn't acknowledge that. They take the man at his word, which is clearly a mistake. The back and forth process is pretty well-established by now. Promises to attack North Korea are like a dozen other such promises. There is no follow through.
Thoughtful people analyzing Trump know that he is all bark and little bite. It's not Presidential. But it is what it is. And it is time to stop acting as if the world is coming to an end whenever Trump says something crazy.
We expect a President to speak with precision, with moderation, and with awareness of the effects of his words. We don't have a President like that. Trump doesn't speak with care at all. And expecting him to is futile. Things aren't as crazy as they seem when Trump first addresses a crisis. He is not as bad as his first pronouncements. After all, he hasn't taken the extraordinary steps that are suggested in his first tweets.
Trump is a different kind of President, one who wavers over time on matters of importance. He is difficult and maddening. But he is the President and so it is our burden to understand him. The Board doesn't acknowledge that. They take the man at his word, which is clearly a mistake. The back and forth process is pretty well-established by now. Promises to attack North Korea are like a dozen other such promises. There is no follow through.
Thoughtful people analyzing Trump know that he is all bark and little bite. It's not Presidential. But it is what it is. And it is time to stop acting as if the world is coming to an end whenever Trump says something crazy.
trump, the draft dodging coward, has no compunction about sending your kids to die in his war
well, bush and cheney didnt either
its a republican thing
7
I'm definitely no fan of Trump, but in this one instance his unpredictable nature provides the greatest potential to change the North Korean quagmire in decades. Of course that change could include hundreds or thousands of lives lost in a military confrontation - but that risk will only grow as long as their nukeophile leader remains in power. Regardless of the amount of damage it could afflict on neighboring countries, the North Korean leadership knows it would ultimately suffer devastating consequences at the hands of the US and South Korean militaries. Considering such a risk, one hopes that Trump-induced high-tension and uncertainty will ultimately inspire courageous individuals within the NK brass to eliminate the root cause of everyone's problem.
1
And since you are addressing North Korea's right (not) to create nuclear weapons to protect themselves,you should also state that the USA should not have a right to create nuclear weapons to protect themselves also. Fact is,the reality that you do not see is that the USA has caused countries like North Korea to create nuclear weapons out of fear. Reality,trump is a devil. I feel sorry for anyone who upholds his beliefs because whether you know it or not trump was placed in office here in the USA with the help of putin to tear the USA down from the inside out.Both are for the rich and you are not included in their flourishing plan.You really want to do something helpful then influence everyone you can to impeach this devil that will snatch food out of your own mama's mouth to sustain his life.Everyone please wake up,this man has lifted laws concerning our air and water.He is giving large corp. the right to dump whatever waste they want to into our air and water simply because of money.If you have children please think about they're future.
If North Korea's armaments were aimed at metropoitan China, how long do you think it would take for China to take a major role.
2
Testosterone overdosing at its finest. Not diplomacy. Not long-term international strategy. Simply testosterone overdosing from the misogynist-in-chief, vs. the toddler head-of-state in North Korea, who starves his own people to control them, and kills family members if they look askance at him. VP Pence says, "North Korea would do well not to test his resolve." What resolve? Is bravado now the equivalent of resolve?
5
I keep hearing all the mainstream media calling him a flip-flopper you would think they would be happy that he's flip-flopped to a more rational opinion on foreign policyperiod but nope they just have to keep that narrative going now that the whole Russia collusion narrative is going into the toilet they had to come up with a new one. Everyone knows full well he had zero experience in foreign policy and that he would have to learn on the job he's not a politician. He obviously is listening to the people who have surrounded him that know what they're doing and he is learning well and quickly adapting to be a great president that's how a rational person sees it but I don't expect you guys to see it that way because you've been irrational since November 8th of last year. By the way I didn't vote for Donald Trump I don't like him either but what I've seen in the last few weeks I'm starting to like a lot because I'm a normal minded human being with common sense who understands how the world operates. I was upset too but I got over it because I'm an adult and that's what adults do they get over something and they move on with their life. Why don't all of you come and join the rest of us and reality will be waiting for you there
1
The time has come for the grown ups to get rid of the delusional child with the dangerous toys. China controls the economy of North Korea and the United States has thousands of troops stationed in South Korea. In order to avoid a nuclear conflagration-accidental or otherwise-it is necessary to unite Korea as a neutral nation. Germany was united and so can North and South Korea. The following is suggested: (1) Oust Kim Jong-un. (2) The United States removes all of its troops from South Korea. (3) A United Korea is created as a neutral nation unaligned with any power. (4) The United States and China provide economic and technological aid to the north in order modernize its society. (5) China would have no reason to fear a United Korea because it would not be aligned with the United States. This, of course, would require the grown ups to negotiate in good faith. We can hope.
1
I don't know how to handle N Korea but I do know that I don't want to be reading The NY Times about how millions of S Koreans and Japanese have lost their lives as a result of being bombed then knowing that LA is next as I sit in the comfort my NYC residence. But then again by that time North Korea may not even exist..
7
Although you criticize President Trump for lacking a "coherent strategy" on North Korea, President Eisenhower was the last administration which had any such policy. And his strategy was to warn the North Koreans in unequivocal terms that he would no longer tolerate a stalemate and nuclear weapons were on the table. Not surprisingly the Korean War's active hostilities ended soon after his inauguration. Since then, we have seen President Clinton offer food aid in exchange for a Pyongyang promise not to develop nuclear weapons. President Bush sought multi lateral discussions to no avail. President Obama entreated China to offer assistance while ignoring the testing of nuclear weapons. one of these well intentioned efforts had any influence or effect. Although President Trump has to be careful, history has made clear that the North Korean state only respects force. they are not suicidal. And the quiet threats issued by this administration appear to have China and other countries working to defuse the situation. We have to recognize that North Korea is an outlaw state which is an active danger to the peace and security of Asia, indeed the whole world. And we have to take measures to contain this menace, even by unilateral actions. President Trump might be right here and his actions appear to have restrained these seemingly irrational people.
2
In 1994 Trump's opponent's husband gave the North Koreans US$4,000.000 in financial aid + 2 nuclear reactors in exchange for a commitment from the country's hard-line Communist leadership to freeze and gradually dismantle its nuclear weapons development program.
That paid large dividends; it's no wonder the American voter gave Hillary the thumbs down.
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/19/world/clinton-approves-a-plan-to-give-...
That paid large dividends; it's no wonder the American voter gave Hillary the thumbs down.
http://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/19/world/clinton-approves-a-plan-to-give-...
3
What this piece does not mention is that any preemptive military strike on a sovereign nation needs a legal basis. Moral outrage, as in the case of Trump's attack on Syria, and fear of what another country is doing within its own borders, as in the case of the Israeli attack on the Natanz reactor a long time ago, do not serve as sufficient reasons to bomb another country. Without legal justification, any such strike is nothing more than offensive attack and an act of war.
Trump saw the Syrian gas attack as an opportunity to burnish his image and to divert attention from the investigation into his Russian connections. He calculated that the Syrians would not react militarily to the dramatic but ultimately useless Tomahawk barrage, or that Syria would not formally declare war on the United States. So far they haven't, but that doesn't mean that forever they won't.
That is the risky calculus of the preemptive strike. In the case of North Korea, it would be not just risky but insane. But Donald Trump is erratic and motivated by the irrational. His bombastic words to the North Koreans are not a surprise, and neither will be the catastrophic battle that he sooner or later provokes.
Trump saw the Syrian gas attack as an opportunity to burnish his image and to divert attention from the investigation into his Russian connections. He calculated that the Syrians would not react militarily to the dramatic but ultimately useless Tomahawk barrage, or that Syria would not formally declare war on the United States. So far they haven't, but that doesn't mean that forever they won't.
That is the risky calculus of the preemptive strike. In the case of North Korea, it would be not just risky but insane. But Donald Trump is erratic and motivated by the irrational. His bombastic words to the North Koreans are not a surprise, and neither will be the catastrophic battle that he sooner or later provokes.
2
What's new? Trump will say whatever pops into his head about North Korea or any other subject and it can never signify anything. It can only be arbitrarily assigned meaning in retrospect, and even then it’s only speculation. Trump does not open his mouth or his Twitter feed to communicate a concrete position because he hasn’t adopted one. The only decision he has made is to issue an announcement, often to promise only that he will later be issuing another announcement. His sole desire is to vent in the moment. But by perpetuating uncertainty he can sometimes succeed in avoiding accountability down the line. Vague and inarticulate language can be interpreted however the listener desires. Because nobody can pin down any other intentions behind them, the words themselves never come to mean anything at all. The uncertainty they perpetuate is self-justifying, an accomplishment complete unto itself.
1
What's missing in this White House is a "coherent" anything.
5
Trump is reckless in his talk because he is nothing but a 12-year-old schoolyard bully. As with all immature bullies, when someone strikes back he will run away crying like the insecure child he is.
5
The analysis seems naive. The North Koreans learned from the example of Libya that giving up the potential of a nuclear capability ended up in US sponsored regime change, its leader dragged from a hole and shot by his fellow citizens. If the Chinese had the influence on the North Koreans this editorial imputes, why would North Korea's nuclear program not have been aborted long before now? If preventing North Korea from achieving a nuclear capability is a non-negotiable US goal, it is difficult to come up with any policy that achieves this that does involve armed conflict.
This problem has been festering since you lauded President Clinton's Korean Deal. Obama added more failure with his passivity. Let the grown ups handle this. The handwringing on the Left has invited more aggression.
5
But in the real world, Bush cut off negotiations with North Korea in 2002 and in response, North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. This problem is too important to be left in the hand of the deluded and the ignorant.
1
I have absolutely no doubt that DJT will get us into a war with North Korea.....no doubt. He's a bully and he wants to prove to the world how tough he is. He's already bombing Syria and Afghanistan. I don't believe he'll stop there. I truly believe that there will be bombs landing in the U.S. by the end of the year.
2
I have to agree I have been thinking the same thing since he got elected remember he said he loves war and he would bomb the shit out of them those are his own words
2
Nothing excite the base as much as firing up some Blackhawk helicopters...
7
Men have toys for life please keep at it.
The greatest wisdom is stupidity.
The greatest wisdom is stupidity.
America is already a bully nation. Now America wants to offer inducement to China to start bullying North Korea.
China, please do not become a bully! North Korea is a sovereign Nation - it has as much right to build defenses as deems necessary to stop predators grabbing it by the throat, as happened to Iraq and Libya.
China, please do not become a bully! North Korea is a sovereign Nation - it has as much right to build defenses as deems necessary to stop predators grabbing it by the throat, as happened to Iraq and Libya.
I'm both entertained and annoyed at the NYTimes Editorial Board doing Monday morning quarterbacking of Pres. Trump's handling of N. Korea.
The Times can comment only on what it sees. It has no way of knowing what sort of negotiations may be going on or what sort of military preparations are underway.
It seems to me that the Times looks for every opportunity to throw a brick at the head of the president because they don't like him; therefore, whatever he does, in the eyes of the NYTimes, is wrong. Shame for a leading newspaper. that's lost its objectivity.
The Times can comment only on what it sees. It has no way of knowing what sort of negotiations may be going on or what sort of military preparations are underway.
It seems to me that the Times looks for every opportunity to throw a brick at the head of the president because they don't like him; therefore, whatever he does, in the eyes of the NYTimes, is wrong. Shame for a leading newspaper. that's lost its objectivity.
8
Editorials are not really objective. Not ever, in the history of newspapers. Read some from our early history. But be prepared for some shocking language.
NYT has lost its objectivity? Read today's NYT article 'why there are no good options' on North Korea and learn exactly why you are dead wrong on all of your points.
3
if its not on fox news, trump doesnt know or care about it
4
'' Han '' ( Korean ) ~ a "feeling of unresolved resentment against injustices suffered, a sense of helplessness because of the overwhelming odds against one...
I would submit that the majority of peoples on this planet feel that sentiment.
I do.
How, in this modern day and age, after thousands and thousands of years of human progress, that we are still fighting over scraps of land on this vast earth ? ( at the same time with modern weapons that could wipe us all out )
Tell the hermit king that we will send him and his people street lamps if he stands down. Tell him his country will no longer be dark from space at night.
Maybe that will stroke his ego enough to stop this madness.
I would submit that the majority of peoples on this planet feel that sentiment.
I do.
How, in this modern day and age, after thousands and thousands of years of human progress, that we are still fighting over scraps of land on this vast earth ? ( at the same time with modern weapons that could wipe us all out )
Tell the hermit king that we will send him and his people street lamps if he stands down. Tell him his country will no longer be dark from space at night.
Maybe that will stroke his ego enough to stop this madness.
4
According to the excited talking heads on cable news, we are on the brink of war with N. Korea but more sophisticated Americans who lived through the Cold Ward are familiar with all the saber rattling. I'm sure that Trump is pleased because it deflects attention from the Russian-collusion scandal.
1
Trump is not crazy, he's an egotist, he has not dealt with people like Kim, someone who is crazy, and he loves to bully others into getting what he wants. Kim is not a rational player in world affairs like all of the leaders with who Trump has acted poorly, and if Trump upsets him, he very might start a war with nuclear weapons. Trump really needs to stop the chatter and learn all that he can about Kim before he opens his mouth, again. Kim has slaughtered a lot of close relatives in his time in power, and he is the one who is responsible for the programs intended to make North Korea a nuclear power in the world. It is important to understand his psychology and to not mishandle him.
5
Trump's use of Twitter to express his half-baked thoughts about a matter of existential concern, to millions of South Koreans and 28,000 U.S. troops at least, is insane!
5
Trump and "overconfidence and bombast"? According to today's Washington Post it beginning to appear that the American's across a wide spectrum are beginning to soundly reject his "there's sucker born every minute" followed by "no one ever lost money under estimating the the intelligence of the American people" governmental philosophy.
Let us all hope that a warming to Impeachment proceedings by Congress is not too far behind.
Let us all hope that a warming to Impeachment proceedings by Congress is not too far behind.
1
I hope that impeachment is very fast coming
1
So trump with 4 deferments to his credit is now so full of courage , so quick to threaten the NK with the possibility of the use of force .
Very easy to do when you or your loved ones will in no way suffer or possibly die if things go wrong .
He will conduct his dealings with NK just like he ran his business ,if he wins he will have the glory , and if he loses , well . there goes millions of lives up in flames .
So while he is out playing golf and running his business he is placing the lives of the US military at increased risk , while at the same time he is busy planing to strip their parents and grandparents of their health care .
I had dinner yesterday with a friend , his son and his 2 grandchildren , they all voted for trump , now they are all sorry and worried .
I did not have the heart to tell them " I told you so "
Very easy to do when you or your loved ones will in no way suffer or possibly die if things go wrong .
He will conduct his dealings with NK just like he ran his business ,if he wins he will have the glory , and if he loses , well . there goes millions of lives up in flames .
So while he is out playing golf and running his business he is placing the lives of the US military at increased risk , while at the same time he is busy planing to strip their parents and grandparents of their health care .
I had dinner yesterday with a friend , his son and his 2 grandchildren , they all voted for trump , now they are all sorry and worried .
I did not have the heart to tell them " I told you so "
6
During the Presidential campaign, you condemned "false equivalence" between Trump & Clinton. Now you are engaged in the same kind of ridiculous "false equivalence" between Trump & Kim Jong Un. Why does North Korea need nuclear weapons? More importantly, why does NK need ICBMs capable of reaching the US? They do not, and to acquire these weapons is a suicide wish.
If a child were running around the house with a gun, and the intent to acquire bullets and an assault rifle, would you counsel patience and "talk" or would you take the weapon away?
The time to act on NK is now. The problem only gets worse with time, and all prior attempts to negotiate or patiently wait have been demonstrated to be utter failures. China could have solved the problem long ago, but does not care to do what is required. I don't agree with Trump on much of anything, but if he acts decisively on NK, I am behind that effort. This is pretty close to "black & white" and to condemn Trump for being "reckless" is ridiculous.
If a child were running around the house with a gun, and the intent to acquire bullets and an assault rifle, would you counsel patience and "talk" or would you take the weapon away?
The time to act on NK is now. The problem only gets worse with time, and all prior attempts to negotiate or patiently wait have been demonstrated to be utter failures. China could have solved the problem long ago, but does not care to do what is required. I don't agree with Trump on much of anything, but if he acts decisively on NK, I am behind that effort. This is pretty close to "black & white" and to condemn Trump for being "reckless" is ridiculous.
2
The solution is so obvious: Invite Kim Jong-un and family to Mar el Largo for a week of golf, parties, fine cuisine, casual chats, relaxing afternoons at the beach and pool, etc., and lots of bargaining, of course. After all, what could possibly be more fun for the two 'leaders' than a world-class game of monopoly in such royal surroundings?
9
And excellent taxpayer value!
2
Trump's only skills are bullying, blustering, and threatening. He threatens to do damage, whether he's talking to a city official who's refusing him a tax break or a contractor who wants to be paid. As a big frog in a small pond, he got away with it. As a narcissist, he thinks he still can.
To make it worse, the right showered him with praise for bombing Syria. It's the only thing he's done since entering office that's gotten him praise.
We need to stop telling him what he needs to do. He is NOT capable of it. He never will be.
Republicans, stop putting us all at risk with your foolish power trip, and get this child out of office before he does real damage!
To make it worse, the right showered him with praise for bombing Syria. It's the only thing he's done since entering office that's gotten him praise.
We need to stop telling him what he needs to do. He is NOT capable of it. He never will be.
Republicans, stop putting us all at risk with your foolish power trip, and get this child out of office before he does real damage!
28
Except being "firm" vs. what you interpret as reckless and seeking meaningful negotiations haven't workd in the past. You thank Obama for "warning" Trump about the threat, but take to task his successor, not the person who had 8 years to do something about it!
You refer to North Korea's "own threats" implying Trump is responsible for its instability and aggression when there is ample warrant from past years to consider North Korea a wild card and potential aggressor against America and regional interests.
Nowhere do you have the decency to censure North Korea in this typically thin-lipped sermon.
I used to think liberals of the editorial board's ilk were extreme but misguided. I now think you are anti-American plain and simple. Defeatist.
You refer to North Korea's "own threats" implying Trump is responsible for its instability and aggression when there is ample warrant from past years to consider North Korea a wild card and potential aggressor against America and regional interests.
Nowhere do you have the decency to censure North Korea in this typically thin-lipped sermon.
I used to think liberals of the editorial board's ilk were extreme but misguided. I now think you are anti-American plain and simple. Defeatist.
2
Too bad Trump doesn't read the NY Times.
1
That's because it's above his reading level.
2
North Korea's pathology is not the fault of the United States. The blame America first strategy is such a tired old cliche on the part of liberals. North Korea is the creature of the USSR and later, it became the sole ward of the People's Republic of China. Now evidently the Chinese can no longer fully control their little Frankenstein and have to rely on trade penalties, as if starving half the population (again) is any concern to the North Korean leader.
One cannot act afraid around a bully. One has to push back. Otherwise, they will think they can roll over you and anyone else. The US is right to talk back tough. Kim continuously threatens our allies and America in the most grandiose and disgusting manner imaginable. We can continue to shrug off and ignore these threats at our own peril.
One cannot act afraid around a bully. One has to push back. Otherwise, they will think they can roll over you and anyone else. The US is right to talk back tough. Kim continuously threatens our allies and America in the most grandiose and disgusting manner imaginable. We can continue to shrug off and ignore these threats at our own peril.
4
'Tough talk' you say? Do you really mean 'tough action'? If it's tough action, how many dead is acceptable to you? 100 dead? 10,000 dead? 1,000,000 dead? Or it doesn't matter since they are not our dead, just Asian dead. What plan do you suggest that might lead to zero dead? Or doesn't it matter since humans really like to kill. Makes us feel manly.
3
Trump lives and thinks in a gilded vacuum filled with mirrors.
I can't think of a single reality based solution, to any problem, that Trump has ever come up with.
From the day he was elected, I knew he was going to start at least one war, and probably several.
Trump will start a war with Korea. He needs the distraction, and his ego will demand it. After all, he is completely immune from any of the consequences - "Millions die, so what? They're not MY friends. I get impeached? Who cares? I'm off to Mar-A-Lago with all the money I made off the Presidency!" Zero accountability breeds this.
It's not a question of if, it's a question of when.
If only the 63,000,000 people who voted for this morally bankrupt "racist for profit" would be fighting his wars of choice for him, I wouldn't have a problem with it.
Unfortunately, "Justice" left this land a long, long time ago...
I can't think of a single reality based solution, to any problem, that Trump has ever come up with.
From the day he was elected, I knew he was going to start at least one war, and probably several.
Trump will start a war with Korea. He needs the distraction, and his ego will demand it. After all, he is completely immune from any of the consequences - "Millions die, so what? They're not MY friends. I get impeached? Who cares? I'm off to Mar-A-Lago with all the money I made off the Presidency!" Zero accountability breeds this.
It's not a question of if, it's a question of when.
If only the 63,000,000 people who voted for this morally bankrupt "racist for profit" would be fighting his wars of choice for him, I wouldn't have a problem with it.
Unfortunately, "Justice" left this land a long, long time ago...
4
Trump's lunacy is matched only by North Korea's. Whether this mutual idiocy is enough to get the Chinese to "solve" the problem remains to be seen, but appears to be a long shot. Meanwhile it is important to remember that N Korea could hit Seoul, with over 10 million people, with a nuclear weapon launched by a catapult.
3
A more worrisome concern is being left out by many.
Bannon and his extreme worldview no longer carry the weight it did before one week. Korean crisis is unfolding at faster clip within last week. if that is the case, which nutcase in Trump's circle of influence is recommending these dangerous moves?
If Gen. Mc Master and Gen. Mattis are as cool headed and experienced as their resumes indicate, who is calling the shots?
Bannon and his extreme worldview no longer carry the weight it did before one week. Korean crisis is unfolding at faster clip within last week. if that is the case, which nutcase in Trump's circle of influence is recommending these dangerous moves?
If Gen. Mc Master and Gen. Mattis are as cool headed and experienced as their resumes indicate, who is calling the shots?
4
jared and ivanka
theyre having a swell time in the oval office
1
"He must avoid overconfidence and bombast in dealing .........'
Are you kidding? Are you writing satire?
Are you kidding? Are you writing satire?
7
There is a small time frame left for The USA President to take action because if there is a change of government in South Korea, the incoming government wants USA missiles out of their nation and prefers to get China to talk to North Korea. This is not good for the USA as North Korea could have the capacity to nuke the USA within 4 years, and nuke Australia within 2 years. If the USA is nuked then 9 out of 10 USA citizens will die. The time to strike North Korea is NOW, otherwise the door of opportunity will be closed forever after the South Korean elections.
You cannot reason with a madman who enshrined North Korea as a 'nuclear State' in its constitution in 2012. You can talk till the cows come home but it will not stop North Korea expanding its nuclear programme as they have their own resources of uranium and don't need to import uranium. Don't forget that North Korea got their technology to develop nuclear missiles from Pakistan. On NZ TV news last evening it showed a western world news presenter interviewing a North Korean at a Flower Show and the presenter said, Don't you find it rather strange that a nuclear missile is displayed amongst the floral displays everywhere you go. You cannot reason with an insane nation that's constitution is enshrined in nuclear bombs. Trump has to make the hard decisions and innocent people get killed in wars. A world without the USA as a superpower is a return to the dark ages where you'll get a new age type of communist/muslim theocracy
You cannot reason with a madman who enshrined North Korea as a 'nuclear State' in its constitution in 2012. You can talk till the cows come home but it will not stop North Korea expanding its nuclear programme as they have their own resources of uranium and don't need to import uranium. Don't forget that North Korea got their technology to develop nuclear missiles from Pakistan. On NZ TV news last evening it showed a western world news presenter interviewing a North Korean at a Flower Show and the presenter said, Don't you find it rather strange that a nuclear missile is displayed amongst the floral displays everywhere you go. You cannot reason with an insane nation that's constitution is enshrined in nuclear bombs. Trump has to make the hard decisions and innocent people get killed in wars. A world without the USA as a superpower is a return to the dark ages where you'll get a new age type of communist/muslim theocracy
War and the preparation for war are two major hobby horses of rightists. They never learn that power which emanates from the mouth of guns offensively is the kind of political power which always invites universal retaliation from those threatened by it.
But even that glorious right wing war lover, Teddy Roosevelt said "Speak SOFTLY and carry a big stick". Not "Shoot your bullying mouth off and launch missiles and bombs."
But even that glorious right wing war lover, Teddy Roosevelt said "Speak SOFTLY and carry a big stick". Not "Shoot your bullying mouth off and launch missiles and bombs."
Sounds like the western nations of the free world versus post WW1 Germany. Talk, talk, talk and don't do, do, do and what do you get? War, war and more war. Works every time. djt, either offer North Korea a deal they can't refuse or shut up and bear the consequences. Should be interesting to see what our phony president does versus a genuine, wacko dictator. I'm betting on the dictator as he will kill without compunction. The only reason king djt will act is if his decision will fill the coffers of the 1%.
2
No doubt Kim Jong-Un is in the driver’s seat, at least for now. The U.S. and China are in the backseat squabbling over how best to handle Kim. Meanwhile Kim is playing them off one another. To China, yes, I’ll probably have another nuclear test because the “Paper Tiger” is making threats to my country. China lets Trump know their worried about escalating the rhetoric. Trump tries to play it down a little with his tweeting but Pence is in South Korea now making more idle threats of “nothing is off the table”. Tillerson has already shown his diplomatic skills with comments like “military action is an option”.
Now the spark that may set everything in motion. The USS Carl Vinson Strike Force is sailing to the Korean Peninsula along with the Japanese. And now China and Russian warships are following them. All you need is one little mishap, and then……………
Now the spark that may set everything in motion. The USS Carl Vinson Strike Force is sailing to the Korean Peninsula along with the Japanese. And now China and Russian warships are following them. All you need is one little mishap, and then……………
The usual cast of suspects (hawks, neo-cons, etc.) who lost most of their currency following the Iraq debacle under Bush are back in full force. How soon they forget the costs (in lives and to the treasury) incurred and the lack of successes of America's military adventures - Iraq is still broken, Afghanistan is, well, still Afghanistan . . . will they ever learn?
16
And since you are addressing North Korea's right (not) to create nuclear weapons to protect themselves,you should also state that the USA should not have a right to create nuclear weapons to protect themselves also. Fact is,the reality that you do not see is that the USA has caused countries like North Korea to create nuclear weapons out of fear. Reality,trump is a devil. I feel sorry for you and anyone who upholds his beliefs because whether you know it or not trump was placed in office here in the USA with the help of putin to tear the USA down from the inside out.Both are for the rich and you are not included in their flourishing plan.You really want to do something helpful then influence everyone you can to impeach this devil that will snatch food out of his own mama's mouth to sustain his life.Everyone please wake up,this man has lifted laws concerning our air and water.He is giving large corp. the right to dump whatever waste they want to into our air and water simply because of money.If you have children please think about they're future.
So this article advocates doing the same thing we have been doing for 30 years. The same thing that hasnt brought thr North Korean people any relief from their ruthless dictator. The same things that evidently has led to NK owning nuclear weapons and now ICBMs. The same things that will eventually allow NK to get thermonuclear bombs on missles, allowing them to strike anywhere in the world.
China will NEVER allow NK to collapse. NEVER, unless we were willing to give them back Taiwan, and even then I dont know. The sooner we realize that negotiations only allow NK to continue on its path to being a thermonuclear power, the better.
China will NEVER allow NK to collapse. NEVER, unless we were willing to give them back Taiwan, and even then I dont know. The sooner we realize that negotiations only allow NK to continue on its path to being a thermonuclear power, the better.
A strange piece, I must say.
So North Korea didn't conduct a nuclear test and its missile test failed. Perhaps because of US cyber warfare (Which would be OK, then? As long as it's the US doing it, it's fine, apparently.)
Perhaps because those wily North Koreans were very much aware of the expectation and decided to wrong-foot you.
Perhaps indeed because of Chinese pressure. But let's just leave the champagne in the fridge for now, he?
And the Chinese, well, if Donald the Magnificent thinks that they'll do his bidding, he'd better think again. Only if they can get payment in kind. And if they're smart (and i'm working from the assumption that they are, fiendishly so), they'll ask to be allowed to do something the US has done at some time in the past. Like drop bombs on some sovereign country that isn't actually posing a threat one would recognize as such. Or maybe they'll sink a Vietnamese ship that comes too close to one of those specks of land in the South-China Sea. Or send military materiel and trainers to the Philippines. Or a PLAN flotilla through the Bering Straits and around Alaska and Canada into the Atlantic.
The only way out is for POTUS to stop being himself and morph into a mature, thoughtful adult. One who's capable of looking a couple of moves ahead. Who understand that diplomacy isn't conducted by tweet.
As we all know, sadly, the chance of that happening is somewhere near zero...
So North Korea didn't conduct a nuclear test and its missile test failed. Perhaps because of US cyber warfare (Which would be OK, then? As long as it's the US doing it, it's fine, apparently.)
Perhaps because those wily North Koreans were very much aware of the expectation and decided to wrong-foot you.
Perhaps indeed because of Chinese pressure. But let's just leave the champagne in the fridge for now, he?
And the Chinese, well, if Donald the Magnificent thinks that they'll do his bidding, he'd better think again. Only if they can get payment in kind. And if they're smart (and i'm working from the assumption that they are, fiendishly so), they'll ask to be allowed to do something the US has done at some time in the past. Like drop bombs on some sovereign country that isn't actually posing a threat one would recognize as such. Or maybe they'll sink a Vietnamese ship that comes too close to one of those specks of land in the South-China Sea. Or send military materiel and trainers to the Philippines. Or a PLAN flotilla through the Bering Straits and around Alaska and Canada into the Atlantic.
The only way out is for POTUS to stop being himself and morph into a mature, thoughtful adult. One who's capable of looking a couple of moves ahead. Who understand that diplomacy isn't conducted by tweet.
As we all know, sadly, the chance of that happening is somewhere near zero...
2
War is Trump's ultimate deflection and distraction technique for drawing attention away from his crimes and failures.
It is shocking how alike the two leaders are. The are both childish, prone to tantrums, think they are the best at everything and the most intelligent, speak of themselves in superlatives, and both are overweight with weird hair.
Unfortunately, war is not a game. Even though Trump thinks his time at military school was equivalent to serving in the army, from which he got 5 deferments for a bone spur, he was never in danger. In case he didn't notice, wars kill people. Kim Jung Um was rattling his sabers before Trump, but we don't need our president to up the ante. War is not a game. I hope our president will listen to some experts for once, instead of being the know it all, who doesn't need any advice. Both leaders are nuts, but I hope ours can come to his senses before it is too late. We do not want a war with North Korea.
Unfortunately, war is not a game. Even though Trump thinks his time at military school was equivalent to serving in the army, from which he got 5 deferments for a bone spur, he was never in danger. In case he didn't notice, wars kill people. Kim Jung Um was rattling his sabers before Trump, but we don't need our president to up the ante. War is not a game. I hope our president will listen to some experts for once, instead of being the know it all, who doesn't need any advice. Both leaders are nuts, but I hope ours can come to his senses before it is too late. We do not want a war with North Korea.
It's the bully that yells and screams and makes all the threats. And it's the bully that's the dumbest one around.
Donald Trump doesn't have the ability or the brains to deal with North Korea. He needs to shut his mouth before someone shuts it for him.
Donald Trump doesn't have the ability or the brains to deal with North Korea. He needs to shut his mouth before someone shuts it for him.
4
Over and over Trump has shown himself incapable of a “coherent strategy”. He’s spent his life as a schoolyard bully. If he feels challenged, he attacks. He thinks that attacking makes him seem strong. Seeming “strong and powerful” is his catnip. That has always been his only strategy.
By now its well known that to stay on Trump’ good side, his ego must be stroked so he can feel like the top dog. Notice how Mike Pence constant references to Trump’s “broad shoulders” and great “strength?” Right now, Pence is in the DMZ spouting this very mantra because that keeps the boss happy. Apparently this is the strategy.
Annoying as Mr. Trump may find it, the rest of the world has more than enough problems than making him feel good which is hardly preventing him from trying to seize attention. Blowing up things worked for him last week so he knows that works. His personality disorder really has become one yuge international pile of trouble. It might be more productive to try to develop a strategy to prevent him from leading us into war.
By now its well known that to stay on Trump’ good side, his ego must be stroked so he can feel like the top dog. Notice how Mike Pence constant references to Trump’s “broad shoulders” and great “strength?” Right now, Pence is in the DMZ spouting this very mantra because that keeps the boss happy. Apparently this is the strategy.
Annoying as Mr. Trump may find it, the rest of the world has more than enough problems than making him feel good which is hardly preventing him from trying to seize attention. Blowing up things worked for him last week so he knows that works. His personality disorder really has become one yuge international pile of trouble. It might be more productive to try to develop a strategy to prevent him from leading us into war.
1
Chaos is Trump's foreign and domestic policy. N Korea is never going to give up its nuke program. This is their only deterrence to an American first strike. Unlike any President since 1953, this is now a real possibility with the intemperate Trump. Kim may be crazy but he or those around him are not stupid. He knows that an American nuclear attack would end his reign. This threat has always prevented the North from attacking S Korea or Japan. Nukes in Kim's hands don't change this reality. Trump's latest puffery is just more theater, unless N Korea takes it seriously enough that it has no other choice but to attach the South and thereby commit suicide.
1
trump has no interest in being a president
he wants to bark orders between rounds of golf and face fulls of maraloco chocolate cake, the most beautiful chocolate cake youve ever seen
4
As other commentators have pointed out, this is about two mental juveniles try to impress the girls, or whomever.
They are both Rodney Dangerfield avatars: "I don't get no respect! I'll show you!"
Or perhaps Taxi Driver types: "You talkin' to me? Me?"
Dangerfield and De Niro did it because they were paid entertainers. These guys do it because it compulsively drives their behavior.
They are both Rodney Dangerfield avatars: "I don't get no respect! I'll show you!"
Or perhaps Taxi Driver types: "You talkin' to me? Me?"
Dangerfield and De Niro did it because they were paid entertainers. These guys do it because it compulsively drives their behavior.
All the saber-rattling looks pretty ridiculous when N. Korea's missiles explode shortly after take-off. Can't we do better than this?
Their nuclear weapons are real and within 30 miles of Seoul.
1
Trumps loose lips will sink more than ships. He has to be muzzled like any other wild animal. Congress DO YOUR JOB!
2
To thaw this situation perhaps the President could send Kim Jong-un a slice of that delicious Mar-a-lago chocolate cake.
2
The author implies that the test that N Korea tried to carry out last week failed because of an American cyberstrike?!!! Does the NYTimes work for N Korea? Does their hatred for anything Trump mean they would rather commit treason than report just the facts?
Obama said N Korea was a threat. Everyone on the planet knows this; there are many threats. Not to attack, but what did Obama do to stop the nut job ruling N Korea? What was he supposed to do? What is Trump supposed to do? N Korea has for decades used the threat of weapons, has for 10 years tested missiles - all in an effort to extort money or lift sanctions. N Korea is despicable. Even China knows this, but refuses to do much as they want access to S Korea and Japan AND they believe that they can control the nut job. They cannot. No one can.
So, what is the solution? I'd like to know...
Obama said N Korea was a threat. Everyone on the planet knows this; there are many threats. Not to attack, but what did Obama do to stop the nut job ruling N Korea? What was he supposed to do? What is Trump supposed to do? N Korea has for decades used the threat of weapons, has for 10 years tested missiles - all in an effort to extort money or lift sanctions. N Korea is despicable. Even China knows this, but refuses to do much as they want access to S Korea and Japan AND they believe that they can control the nut job. They cannot. No one can.
So, what is the solution? I'd like to know...
It's been clear that this problem is coming to a head as N. Korea becomes more capable of delivering a nuclear weapon. Sadly, we have one of the least qualified President ever to have to deal with this situation. Trump has no knowledge of history, of international relations, or of military capabilities. In addition, Trump is the "knee-jerk" president, who reacts to the news feed of the moment, and he reacts much like a 12 year-old. He's thin-skinned and egotistical to the point of being mentally ill. He thinks that everything he does is simply genius, even when it's clearly stupid or ineffective. Sadly, this puts the lives of millions of South Korean's at risk. I cannot imagine what it must be like for them. Knowing that their fate rests on the decisions of two of the most ignorant and childish leaders on the planet.
Too late. Trump had already demonstrated his ignorance, paraded his flips and flops, and probably undermined his credibility permanently. Here is where his strategy of unpredictability becomes a lasting diplomatic liability.
Are we headed for a dynasty in this country. This morning on a radio news discussion of the Easter Egg Roll party on the White House lawn, the reporter mentioned that Eric Trump was being interviewed concerning the North Korea problem. What on earth does Eric Trump have to do with this discussion? It is bad enough that we ended up with Trump, but do all his kids get input on policy/ Will we soon be heading from Tiffany as to her opinions? Have any other Presidents children been this involved in foreign and domestic policy?
2
It is apparently hard for Trump and his children to understand that there are multiple positives and negatives for China here. Firstly, they will not accept a reunited Korea. That is why they entered the war in 1952.
Secondly, they will not abandon a client state.
Thirdly, it benefits them to have the US weakening itself in the Pacific area, an area that China conceives of as their proper sphere of influence. By canceling the TPP, and now focusing not on the diplomacy of uniting our allies but rather a verbal confrontation of military threats, Trump is further proving his total inability to understand the problems in this area and is working against a solution that might benefit the US and our partners.
Secondly, they will not abandon a client state.
Thirdly, it benefits them to have the US weakening itself in the Pacific area, an area that China conceives of as their proper sphere of influence. By canceling the TPP, and now focusing not on the diplomacy of uniting our allies but rather a verbal confrontation of military threats, Trump is further proving his total inability to understand the problems in this area and is working against a solution that might benefit the US and our partners.
1
I remember when Obama was president, and for eight years, I didn't worry about nuclear war. Ever.
My how things have changed with this man-child in the oval office. He has no sense of history, no interest in studying the hard details, and no use for experts.
Now my eight year old is asking, "mom, what are nuclear weapons?" My god, what have we done?
My how things have changed with this man-child in the oval office. He has no sense of history, no interest in studying the hard details, and no use for experts.
Now my eight year old is asking, "mom, what are nuclear weapons?" My god, what have we done?
4
You didn't have to worry about war because Obama drew a line in the sand then backed off. A few more years of that and we'd be reading street signs in Arabic.
1
When President Obama joined a multi-nation effort to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities the Republicans felt it was the wrong course of action and wrote an open letter to the Ayatollahs (and the world) saying any Obama agreements weren't going to be honored once he left office.
Now that the shoe is on the other foot, should the Democrats write an open letter to Kim Jong-un relaying the same sentiments expressed by Republicans in their letter to the Ayatollahs?
Now that the shoe is on the other foot, should the Democrats write an open letter to Kim Jong-un relaying the same sentiments expressed by Republicans in their letter to the Ayatollahs?
I am glad the Editorial Board is not taking Trump's bluster at face value and rewarding his macho shows, as it did with the 59 Tomahawks launched at Syria. It is so important that the media not reward Trump's impulsive and inconsistent lurching for "a win", even when the action itself might be the right call. Because Trump listens to the media more than to anyone else, and when even the "failing NY Times" applauds his actions, he is encouraged to do more of the same - in this case use more force. What a terrifying chain of events that might lead to! Keep focusing on his need for a strategy, not on isolated actions!
2
"Then there were the tweets. In one, on April 11, Mr. Trump accused North Korea of “looking for trouble” and warned that “if China decides to help, that would be great. If not, we will solve the problem without them!” That was followed by an NBC News story — hotly denied by the Pentagon — that the administration might strike pre-emptively with conventional weapons."
Are you not engaging in similar provocation by repeating these tweets in a major world newspaper that the North Korean leaders are at least as likely to read as Trump's tweets? A divided country always conveys more vulnerability. Please, NYT, for once take the high road and leave the political ranting behind. It serves no constructive purpose in this looming crisis.
Are you not engaging in similar provocation by repeating these tweets in a major world newspaper that the North Korean leaders are at least as likely to read as Trump's tweets? A divided country always conveys more vulnerability. Please, NYT, for once take the high road and leave the political ranting behind. It serves no constructive purpose in this looming crisis.
1
No amount of talking is going to do anything as North Korea is a NUCLEAR STATE; not a secular state, or a social state; a nuclear state that has its aims and ideals enshrined in its 2012 Constitution. It's officially a ' Nuclear State'.
Has everyone really forgotten the Saddam Hussein lesson (or did they not learn it)? Dictators that lack legitimacy have to look dangerous to the world. If they are crazy, their own troops will turn on them. If they are just cruel, thoughtless, and partisan, their supports will protect the regime until it looks weak. Hussein did the same piece of posturing to protect himself from another Iraq-Iran war. The same is being done in North Korea. The more dangerous they look, the greater the chance of being left alone. After all, they are not out seeking more territory. This dente idea worked fairly well during the cold war, too.
Trump's utter ignorance of the lessons of history, because he can't read anything more complicated than 2 pages, makes him extraordinarily dangerous. One should ask what the basis for an act of war by the US would be? Again we look like hypocrites and it further degrades our standing in the world. Taking out missile technology would help the present leadership just as killing the ruling family would at best change the dynasty and at worst encourage a South Korean attach and following 2nd Korean war.
Trump's utter ignorance of the lessons of history, because he can't read anything more complicated than 2 pages, makes him extraordinarily dangerous. One should ask what the basis for an act of war by the US would be? Again we look like hypocrites and it further degrades our standing in the world. Taking out missile technology would help the present leadership just as killing the ruling family would at best change the dynasty and at worst encourage a South Korean attach and following 2nd Korean war.
Early on Trump's personality was described as "arrested development" - the 12 year old who beat up the little guys on the playground and blamed the big guys - and he never grew up. Now he has some acclaim for his bombing in Syria - the first positive of his administration. So now all he has to do is bomb someone once a month - this playing president is easy! WATCH OUT!
We got 4 nuclear tests under Obama's "coherent strategy" of strategic patience and we are fed up with it. Trump is fed up with it.
Here's what happened over the last couple weeks. N.Korea was about to test its 6th nuclear bomb. Tunnels had been excavated; the site had been prepped.
But then Trump launched 59 Tomahawks at Assad. No UN resolutions. No asking for Congressional approval. No consulting with allies. No waffling. He did it immediately and decisively, during dessert with China's President.
He also pressured China to exert pressure on N.Korea. He used trade, currency manipulation as bargaining chips. Brilliant.
Then, he also used the Mother Of All Bombs as a not-too subtle message to Kim.
He then had his people float the idea of a preemptive strike.
This all led to N.Korea backing down from its planned nuclear test. It's about time we had a President that our opponents respect.
Here's what happened over the last couple weeks. N.Korea was about to test its 6th nuclear bomb. Tunnels had been excavated; the site had been prepped.
But then Trump launched 59 Tomahawks at Assad. No UN resolutions. No asking for Congressional approval. No consulting with allies. No waffling. He did it immediately and decisively, during dessert with China's President.
He also pressured China to exert pressure on N.Korea. He used trade, currency manipulation as bargaining chips. Brilliant.
Then, he also used the Mother Of All Bombs as a not-too subtle message to Kim.
He then had his people float the idea of a preemptive strike.
This all led to N.Korea backing down from its planned nuclear test. It's about time we had a President that our opponents respect.
1
Too bad Hillary blew the election. We could certainly use her political wiles now to deal with North Korea. BTW , please stop using the word "horror" to describe everything that you don't agree with.
Yes, because that policy has worked so well in stopping North Korea's march towards nukes.
Trump's 'loose talk' is just that. He is already banking on China to pressure North Korea.
China ordered North Korean coal ship to leave on April 7, 2017 even though China had announced in Feb2017 to stop importing North Korean coal as NY Times knows all too well.
And China did so on April 7, 2017 only because Xi was meeting Trump on that very day for NY Times' education.
If Jared Kushner had not arranged April 7, 2017 Trump-Xi meeting, North Korean coal would have been offloaded in China without the world ever knowing about it.
'Mr. Trump and President Xi Jinping of China together managing the North Korean threat' can happen only on China's terms which is more talks.
While Mr. Trump has refused more talks, he will agree with Chinese call to return to negotiating table over North Korean nukes/missiles after North Korea's temporary slowdown under Chinese pressure.
And it will just be the repeat of the same old insufferable cycle of talks/agreement/more aid to North Korea.
That in turn will lead to repeat of reneging by North Korea in the future when someone else would have replaced Trump as POTUS.
China ordered North Korean coal ship to leave on April 7, 2017 even though China had announced in Feb2017 to stop importing North Korean coal as NY Times knows all too well.
And China did so on April 7, 2017 only because Xi was meeting Trump on that very day for NY Times' education.
If Jared Kushner had not arranged April 7, 2017 Trump-Xi meeting, North Korean coal would have been offloaded in China without the world ever knowing about it.
'Mr. Trump and President Xi Jinping of China together managing the North Korean threat' can happen only on China's terms which is more talks.
While Mr. Trump has refused more talks, he will agree with Chinese call to return to negotiating table over North Korean nukes/missiles after North Korea's temporary slowdown under Chinese pressure.
And it will just be the repeat of the same old insufferable cycle of talks/agreement/more aid to North Korea.
That in turn will lead to repeat of reneging by North Korea in the future when someone else would have replaced Trump as POTUS.
Under what circumstances does the Times think nuclear war would be justified? Having nuclear bombs is by its very nature insane. That US is the only country to drop not one but two atomic bombs underlines it capacity for mass murder. The Times editors and many columnist clearly got off on the 59 Tomahawk missiles dropped in Syria. And to their delight many also got off when the US dropped the most powerful non nuclear bomb in its arsenal on Afghanistan. Obviously Trump and Kim Jong-un are extremey unstable and dangerous. But that the destruction of the world seems as a reasonable final option somewhere in the consciousness of the Times editorial board is pretty terrifying in itself.
Our only hope in preventing either nuclear war or more protracted, economy draining wars is to impeach our American version of Kim Jong-un. If Trump were more self-observant, he would know that the approaches that do not change his behavior will not change Kim Jong-un's behavior either.
Narcissists with power do not respond to the impending consequences of their actions because they always believe themselves immune to consequences and do not see themselves as part of the rest of humanity that follows rules of law, ethics, and decency.
And when narcissists finally are forced to face those consequences, they lash out and work to bring everyone down with them. If their power and luxury are about to be taken away, they go into destruction mode and ensure that everyone else loses too.
Our reasoning to deprive Kim Jong-un of nuclear capability is the same reason for why we should not allow Trump to have it either. Weapons of mass destruction with the power to wipe out human existence cannot be trusted in the hands of childish minds self-consumed with selfishness.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my toys to break,
So none of the other kids can use ’em…
Amen.
-Shel Silverstein
Narcissists with power do not respond to the impending consequences of their actions because they always believe themselves immune to consequences and do not see themselves as part of the rest of humanity that follows rules of law, ethics, and decency.
And when narcissists finally are forced to face those consequences, they lash out and work to bring everyone down with them. If their power and luxury are about to be taken away, they go into destruction mode and ensure that everyone else loses too.
Our reasoning to deprive Kim Jong-un of nuclear capability is the same reason for why we should not allow Trump to have it either. Weapons of mass destruction with the power to wipe out human existence cannot be trusted in the hands of childish minds self-consumed with selfishness.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my toys to break,
So none of the other kids can use ’em…
Amen.
-Shel Silverstein
2
You wouldn't be so glib if you lived in Japan. China will only be of limited help because she doesn't want millions of starving North Koreans streaming across her border. The fate of Gaddafi is an object lesson to Kim Jong-un about the folly of giving up nuclear weapons. The only thing that motivates Kim Jong-un is a desired not to have a cruise missile in his lap one fine day.
8
given the accuracy of c/m, they most likely would land in Seoul
As noted elsewhere today by the Editorial Board ("The L.G.B.T. Trump Fallacy"), Mr. Trump makes hollow promises. According to CNN today, "Vice President Mike Pence on Monday warned North Korea not to test the resolve of the US "or the strength of our military forces.""
North Korea is not directly threatening us, only indirectly, with lighting more firecrackers. Yes, eventually North Korea will acquire the ability to launch nuclear missiles our way. Many other countries, friendly or antagonistic, already do so. So what? Although Kim Jong-un is hot-headed, it is not likely that his minders will go ahead and let him to lob missiles toward us or other friendly nations. They will find a way to depose him if his decisions invite all-out war.
Meanwhile Trump and Pence are saber rattling. And then what?
The thundering of Trump, Pence, Spicer, and so on, mean nothing and they have no credibility. Is this supposed to impress the electorate?
North Korea is not directly threatening us, only indirectly, with lighting more firecrackers. Yes, eventually North Korea will acquire the ability to launch nuclear missiles our way. Many other countries, friendly or antagonistic, already do so. So what? Although Kim Jong-un is hot-headed, it is not likely that his minders will go ahead and let him to lob missiles toward us or other friendly nations. They will find a way to depose him if his decisions invite all-out war.
Meanwhile Trump and Pence are saber rattling. And then what?
The thundering of Trump, Pence, Spicer, and so on, mean nothing and they have no credibility. Is this supposed to impress the electorate?
3
Easy for Trump to talk loose. No one understands the North Korean dictator better than Trump since they both share the same impetuous lunacy. I fear them both equally.
8
Donald Trump has NEVER participated in a real war. You know the kind -- where people shoot at you or drop bombs on you, and you survive in foxholes if possible. THIS ONE WILL BE DIFFERENT, AMERICA. But it will probably be our last one.......just ask those who have survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki...........
11
And since some of you are addressing North Korea's right (not) to create nuclear weapons to protect themselves,you should also state that the USA should not have a right to create nuclear weapons to protect themselves also. Fact is,the reality that you do not see is that the USA has caused countries like North Korea to create nuclear weapons out of fear. Reality,trump is a devil. I feel sorry for you and anyone who upholds his beliefs because whether you know it or not trump was placed in office here in the USA with the help of putin to tear the USA down from the inside out.Both are for the rich and you are not included in their flourishing plan.You really want to do something helpful then influence everyone you can to overthrow this devil we have that will snatch food out of your own mama's mouth to substain his life.
10
Fact is,the reality that you do not see is that the USA has caused countries like North Korea to create nuclear weapons out of fear.
fact really is Kim would have developed nukes no matter what. He can use them to blackmail neighboring nations, make the bow down to him and show his invincibility.
fact really is Kim would have developed nukes no matter what. He can use them to blackmail neighboring nations, make the bow down to him and show his invincibility.
N Korea's nuclear weapons have nothing whatsoever to do with protecting themselves. Without them they face no real threat with China as their ally.
We feel sad and equally terrified of Trump's imperial presidential style. His office is one of the most powerful with unlimited authority in the most powerful country.
We feel sad to see a wonderful country like America headed by a person pitifully deficient in intellectual prowess running around like a chicken with Its head cut off!
Trump a bully without doubt, may be chewing more than he can swallow. His reckless brash military threats against North Korea may badly back fire. North Korea's dictator Kim an equally unstable man, might call off Trump bluff, by attacking with nuclear bombs millions of civilians and American troops in South Korea. Trump appears not have understood that N. Korea is not Afghanistan, but a country with nuclear arms headed by a determined megalomaniacal dictator.
World at large demands that American lawmakers seriously attempt to remove mentally unstable Trump through impeachment. That is if they want to remove any doubt that Trump is not any more a symptom than cause, the outward manifestation of an inner spiritual disease that continues to eat away at the country’s societal matrix.
We feel sad to see a wonderful country like America headed by a person pitifully deficient in intellectual prowess running around like a chicken with Its head cut off!
Trump a bully without doubt, may be chewing more than he can swallow. His reckless brash military threats against North Korea may badly back fire. North Korea's dictator Kim an equally unstable man, might call off Trump bluff, by attacking with nuclear bombs millions of civilians and American troops in South Korea. Trump appears not have understood that N. Korea is not Afghanistan, but a country with nuclear arms headed by a determined megalomaniacal dictator.
World at large demands that American lawmakers seriously attempt to remove mentally unstable Trump through impeachment. That is if they want to remove any doubt that Trump is not any more a symptom than cause, the outward manifestation of an inner spiritual disease that continues to eat away at the country’s societal matrix.
19
Trump needs to engagement in more appeasement regarding N Korea, like Bush and Obama?
It isn't so much a question of "what missing in the White House in terms of strategy; rather, its more about what is in the White House.
We have a reckless and irresponsible individual at the helm whose recent past behaviors have been uninformed and dangerous.
In spite of this, we are continually reluctant to acknowledge we have a high functioning personality disordered individual in charge. Failure to see Trump for who he is places us in the untenable position of underestimating the cruelty and tenacity of a high functioning psychopath.
In the end, we can take full responsibility for Trump and every last dangerous action he commits.
We have a reckless and irresponsible individual at the helm whose recent past behaviors have been uninformed and dangerous.
In spite of this, we are continually reluctant to acknowledge we have a high functioning personality disordered individual in charge. Failure to see Trump for who he is places us in the untenable position of underestimating the cruelty and tenacity of a high functioning psychopath.
In the end, we can take full responsibility for Trump and every last dangerous action he commits.
2
So now the NYT Editorial Board speculates that the US used cyberwarfare to cause the North Korean missile to explode. Does the NYT have any real information to support what appears to be a pure speculation? If not, why print it, or Is the NYT disappearing down the sink hole of unverified but tantalizing "facts"?
4
Is anyone so naïve as to think that the Times and other U.S. mediate outlets are not monitored by NK intel. They read what's printed here and hear what is said. The media offer a perfect conduit through which planted psyops info can be disseminated. Some of select info may be true, some not. Let Kim Jong-un worry about it...
On February 2, Trump aimed a saber-rattling tweet at Iran, which he “formally PUT ON NOTICE for firing a ballistic missile.” https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/827118012784373760 . Yesterday, McMaster promised that the administration "will take action" if North Korea continues its testing. How can anyone be surprised that the North Korean leader is now rattling a nuclear saber at the U.S.?
G. W. Bush warned at the start that the U.S. "war against terrorism" would not end. At this point, we have been at that war so long that we have unwittingly become a war-tribe society, indifferent to the saber rattling of national leaders bullying each other in a fatal game of weapons one-upsmanship. In this game, "one-up" means nuclear holocaust, an "unthinkable thing." As Senator Fulbright once advised, "We must dare to think about 'unthinkable things' because when things become 'unthinkable,' thinking stops and action becomes mindless."
With Trump as commander-in-chief, we are witnessing action becoming mindless.
Is it too late now for the rest of us to stop and think, seriously think, about the "storm clouds gathering," these daily threats of military strikes that will reap "unthinkable" devastation when, as dictator Kim Jong-Un threatens, they become nuclear?
G. W. Bush warned at the start that the U.S. "war against terrorism" would not end. At this point, we have been at that war so long that we have unwittingly become a war-tribe society, indifferent to the saber rattling of national leaders bullying each other in a fatal game of weapons one-upsmanship. In this game, "one-up" means nuclear holocaust, an "unthinkable thing." As Senator Fulbright once advised, "We must dare to think about 'unthinkable things' because when things become 'unthinkable,' thinking stops and action becomes mindless."
With Trump as commander-in-chief, we are witnessing action becoming mindless.
Is it too late now for the rest of us to stop and think, seriously think, about the "storm clouds gathering," these daily threats of military strikes that will reap "unthinkable" devastation when, as dictator Kim Jong-Un threatens, they become nuclear?
7
Trump should seek the sage advice of Ivanka -- she advised her father on the Syrian cruise missile strike and more importantly, according to FOOTWEAR NEWS: "Ivanka Trump Popped With Color at Church — And Her Chic Pumps Are Under $50"
10
I truly hope our military leaders have a spine when it comes to the idiot in charge making a reckless and unforgivable order to bomb North Korea.
13
No one knew this would be so complicated.
But fortunately, our President has gathered a team of trusted, knowledgable and experienced scholars and diplomats to advise him: Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Stephen Bannon, Bill O'Reilly, with Alex Jones to provide news updates. If diplomacy fails, the President can just scribble his name on an executive order and declare 'mission accomplished.' Or order up 'The Mother of All Bombs' over the best charred steak with ketchup you've ever seen while dining at Mar a Lago.
We're doomed.
But fortunately, our President has gathered a team of trusted, knowledgable and experienced scholars and diplomats to advise him: Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump, Stephen Bannon, Bill O'Reilly, with Alex Jones to provide news updates. If diplomacy fails, the President can just scribble his name on an executive order and declare 'mission accomplished.' Or order up 'The Mother of All Bombs' over the best charred steak with ketchup you've ever seen while dining at Mar a Lago.
We're doomed.
14
Bush and Obama gathered even more geniuses. Yet they failed in restraining Kim too.
Gotta love the descriptions of North Korea's leader as an overweight, hormonal, teenager. Who do we think is running our country now?
15
Trump is proving that North Korea's military defense policy is sound and wise.
6
I thought Bush and Obama did that too.
How can a mediocre (as in he ran a small family business, not a real public corporation), 9-5 businessman, who vacations every weekend, be expected to even begin to grasp the fundamentals of a job that takes intellect, wisdom, and a willingness to listen to experts?
A low-information president elected by low-information voters. Truly pathetic, and dangerous.
A low-information president elected by low-information voters. Truly pathetic, and dangerous.
19
Obama worked long hrs. Yet his administration proved powerless to prevent Kim from developing more nukes and missles. Bush had the same problem. It seems that no matter what the US does Kim will continue on his merry way towards his nuclear goals.
A "small" family business?
Wow! You must be a heavy hitter, Joe. The Trump Organization operates globally; as of 2016, it had between 22,500 and 25,000 employees...
Wow! You must be a heavy hitter, Joe. The Trump Organization operates globally; as of 2016, it had between 22,500 and 25,000 employees...
1
An observation. Vice President Pence has signaled, even in the high-stakes arena of the Koreas, that stroking the President is the first order of business.
Before referring to "the armed forces of the United States" at the joint statement with South Korea’s acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn, Pence gushed "“Just in the past two weeks, the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new president in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan.”
Whether having merely taken on, through constant exposure, trump's own self-aggrandizing style, or perhaps inspired by the North Korean state media's regular, comical boasts of the prowess and achievements of the Kim clan, Pence can't help himself from extolling what he sees, not as "America's," but trump's "strength and resolve," while he takes a subtle yet gratuitous swipe at trump's predecessor by referring to "our new president," as if no one had yet noticed.
How soon until the Vice President begins regaling us with tales of our own Dear Leader's remarkable ten holes-in-one on the back nine at Mar-a-Lago?
Before referring to "the armed forces of the United States" at the joint statement with South Korea’s acting president Hwang Kyo-ahn, Pence gushed "“Just in the past two weeks, the world witnessed the strength and resolve of our new president in actions taken in Syria and Afghanistan.”
Whether having merely taken on, through constant exposure, trump's own self-aggrandizing style, or perhaps inspired by the North Korean state media's regular, comical boasts of the prowess and achievements of the Kim clan, Pence can't help himself from extolling what he sees, not as "America's," but trump's "strength and resolve," while he takes a subtle yet gratuitous swipe at trump's predecessor by referring to "our new president," as if no one had yet noticed.
How soon until the Vice President begins regaling us with tales of our own Dear Leader's remarkable ten holes-in-one on the back nine at Mar-a-Lago?
12
I think the press should be more specific about the dangers of this talk of pre-emption. You write, correctly, that pre-emption can do little to solve the nuclear threat, and that it would "invite retaliation against millions of civilians and 28,000 American troops in South Korea." That is pretty generic, and many television news reports are equally anemic with details.
it should be stated over and over again that Seoul, South Korea is 35 miles from the North Korean border, and that North Korea has thousands and thousands of conventional artillery tubes and conventional ground to ground rockets, and Seoul is well within the range of these weapons. It is precisely the same as if these weapons were in Greenwich, CT and aimed at downtown Manhattan, or in Naperville, IL and aimed at downtown Chicago. In all of these cases, a mass artillery barrage would kill and wound hundreds of thousands of people before these conventional weapons could be destroyed--probably by a ground invasion.
Unfortunately for Seoul, this is not a hypothetical threat, and the specifics of this threat should be common knowledge to all Americans. Of course, it is not common knowledge, and here we have the barking mad Kim Jong-in facing off with the American Boy King and his talk of "an armada." This is a hugely dangerous situation, and it is why American Presidents have avoided conflict with North Korea. And this is precisely why a man like Donald Trump should never be President.
it should be stated over and over again that Seoul, South Korea is 35 miles from the North Korean border, and that North Korea has thousands and thousands of conventional artillery tubes and conventional ground to ground rockets, and Seoul is well within the range of these weapons. It is precisely the same as if these weapons were in Greenwich, CT and aimed at downtown Manhattan, or in Naperville, IL and aimed at downtown Chicago. In all of these cases, a mass artillery barrage would kill and wound hundreds of thousands of people before these conventional weapons could be destroyed--probably by a ground invasion.
Unfortunately for Seoul, this is not a hypothetical threat, and the specifics of this threat should be common knowledge to all Americans. Of course, it is not common knowledge, and here we have the barking mad Kim Jong-in facing off with the American Boy King and his talk of "an armada." This is a hugely dangerous situation, and it is why American Presidents have avoided conflict with North Korea. And this is precisely why a man like Donald Trump should never be President.
13
Seoul's lack of preparation in the face of decades of threats is criminal.
Purposely shelling civilian population centers is a war crime.
Pre-emptively obliterating N.Korea's nuclear facilities is common sense.
Purposely shelling civilian population centers is a war crime.
Pre-emptively obliterating N.Korea's nuclear facilities is common sense.
Mr. Trump needs to be firm, not reckless in his talk, ratchet up sanctions and find a way to engage the North in negotiations.
Ha! Well if you believe that your advice will fall on other than deaf ears then you are as delusional as he is reckless.
Ha! Well if you believe that your advice will fall on other than deaf ears then you are as delusional as he is reckless.
2
What threat does North Korea currently pose to the U.S. of A.?
Naw, you have to tell Lil' Fatty to shut up and go away - or get his people and China to do it.
5
What happened to the whole Russia thing? North Korea is the shiny object people!!
7
Putin is logical, Kim is not. big difference.
Just to be clear. Neither I nor any thinking person supports Donald Trump. I fully expect him to be impeached for sedition and bribery in his relations with Russia.
That said,
No amount of "loose talk" on North Korea contributes in any way, shape or form to that country's determination to perfect nuclear weaponry. Donald Trump in no way contributes to their leaders' paranoia or their irrational behavior.
North Korea's oligarchy have, are and will be pursuing their nuclear weaponry goals regardless of what the United States postulates diplomatically or economically.
The tensions in the region are the sole responsibility of North Korea and China. China does not see it worth their while to or their ability to derail N Korea's nuclear program. At some point the program will have to be stopped. Permitting it to continue is akin to enabling the terrorist organizations of the world to have a potential second source for such weaponry after Pakistan.
At some point, the civilized world will have to end the ambitions of North Korea. Donald Trump will be an anecdote to this story.
That said,
No amount of "loose talk" on North Korea contributes in any way, shape or form to that country's determination to perfect nuclear weaponry. Donald Trump in no way contributes to their leaders' paranoia or their irrational behavior.
North Korea's oligarchy have, are and will be pursuing their nuclear weaponry goals regardless of what the United States postulates diplomatically or economically.
The tensions in the region are the sole responsibility of North Korea and China. China does not see it worth their while to or their ability to derail N Korea's nuclear program. At some point the program will have to be stopped. Permitting it to continue is akin to enabling the terrorist organizations of the world to have a potential second source for such weaponry after Pakistan.
At some point, the civilized world will have to end the ambitions of North Korea. Donald Trump will be an anecdote to this story.
2
Loose loose lips sink ships as well as twitchy Twitter fingers.
2
loose lips gorge maraloco chocolate cake, the most beautiful chocolate cake youve ever seen
1
Once again, Trump is behaving like the elementary school yard bully. This is no surprise since his demonstrated emotional, psychological, intellectual and ethical development stalled out at that level some 60 years ago. Unfortunately, this aberration of a man is now the world's most powerful.
I have but one piece of advice for this cretin.
KNOW THY ENEMY.
For Mr Kim the Korean conflict / war never ended and he is technically right. He may be vicious but he is no fool. Nor does he have a death-wish.
But he can become a cornered man.
KNOW THY ENEMY, Mr. Trump.
I have but one piece of advice for this cretin.
KNOW THY ENEMY.
For Mr Kim the Korean conflict / war never ended and he is technically right. He may be vicious but he is no fool. Nor does he have a death-wish.
But he can become a cornered man.
KNOW THY ENEMY, Mr. Trump.
1
Why, he knows all about Notth Korea, having chatted about it over a big beautiful puece of chocolate cake with the Chinese leader, who was kind enough to fill him in.
1
After a stupefying months-long display of incompetence and meanspiritedness, it seems DT has found his metier: rashly ordering bombings. May God help the living things of this earth.
11
Trump has few compasses with which to guide him. The world will be in a very dangerous situation the next four years with this impetuous President controlling our military and nuclear arsenal. President Trump launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria at the urging of his daughter, Ivanka, who apparently holds sway over his actions. How many more heads will roll at her urging. Salome has six veils left.
What that Trump's campaign opponents warned has not been true of his utterly inadequate leadership? only worse?
1
"Mr. Trump needs to be firm, not reckless in his talk, ratchet up sanctions and find a way to engage the North in negotiations." There is no evidence that he has failed in any of these things. He has been patient and restrained with China, which has enjoyed a multi-decade free ride with its irresponsible use of NK as a counterbalancing cat's paw. It isn't Trump who upset the status quo: it is NK whose development of progressively stronger nuclear weapons, intercontinental missiles with progressively farther reach, and stated intention of first use on the U.S. who has upset it. Even Obama understood that in his decision to deploy THAAD over China's strong objections. The NYT seems to be bending over to cast blame on Trump, who has been in office for less than three months, and find sympathetic excuses for NK's quarter-century development of nuclear weapons by echoing their own propaganda. But the irrationality of this is shown in the fact that the development of these weapons spanned U.S. administrations who were willing to find openings with the North.
2
Junior high deja vu! Donny and Kimmy, big fight after school!
3
I'm running out of "strategic patience" with TrumpCo. Think about it: this guy wanted a huge military parade for his SINauguration. But denied that by the US military, he now accuses NK of acting aggressively by holding a huge military parade (possibly with dummy "weapons" included). So many lies! So much losing!
But thankfully, soon, very, very soon, let Trump be warned: the Millions I was offered to be a Tax Marcher will go a long way to funding my secret plans to oppose this White House "resident" in any way I (and other bigly paid protestors) can now fund.
So, listen up TrumpCo, patience has run out! Millions of us have earned $$$$$ from marching. And that means a TON of donations to secretive leftist groups will be forthcoming. All to oppose Trump!
The Trump international saber-rattling has got to end. The breaking of America has got to stop. Because We the People, as Trump seems to know, are now flush with so much cash - more than any protest movement ever! The White House will listen or the People will March! And every time we March, those protest coffers just get bigger and bigger.
But thankfully, soon, very, very soon, let Trump be warned: the Millions I was offered to be a Tax Marcher will go a long way to funding my secret plans to oppose this White House "resident" in any way I (and other bigly paid protestors) can now fund.
So, listen up TrumpCo, patience has run out! Millions of us have earned $$$$$ from marching. And that means a TON of donations to secretive leftist groups will be forthcoming. All to oppose Trump!
The Trump international saber-rattling has got to end. The breaking of America has got to stop. Because We the People, as Trump seems to know, are now flush with so much cash - more than any protest movement ever! The White House will listen or the People will March! And every time we March, those protest coffers just get bigger and bigger.
3
We just need to take Lil' Kim's toys away from him and put him in time out until he learns to obey us.
2
How nice to see the Editorial Board write something about the current administration that isn't the usual, condescending slam piece. Please feel free to do so more often. You just might pass for an unbiased news organization one day if you do.
1
North Korea got stuck with their leader. We elected our guy.
We have a much better chance, so far, at controlling our guy, or even removing him from office, than the North Koreans do.
But our guy is grabbing more and more power every day, and getting richer and richer from his leader role. He's consistently on the edge of or outside the legal boundaries that are supposed to control his power,
Is it time we start asking ourselves what his third term as president of the USA might be like?
We have a much better chance, so far, at controlling our guy, or even removing him from office, than the North Koreans do.
But our guy is grabbing more and more power every day, and getting richer and richer from his leader role. He's consistently on the edge of or outside the legal boundaries that are supposed to control his power,
Is it time we start asking ourselves what his third term as president of the USA might be like?
3
So Trump has got the whole world unnerved. Is that necessarily a bad thing?
It is, granted, an entirely different brand of foreign policy than we've seen before. But, is it possible that there is a method to Trump's apparent madness? He said, time and again, on the campaign trail that he wanted to be unpredictable. And that may not necessarily be a bad thing. Certainly, foreign policy as practiced by his predecessors proved less than effective.
On some level, there's no substitute for letting your adversaries feel the ground shake and hear the boom when the mother of all bombs explodes. With North Korea, the sending of a naval task force is the sort of thing lots of presidents have done. The statement from China about war clouds on the Korean peninsula was aimed as much at North Korea, maybe moreso, than at the U.S. I can't recall China ever sending such a public rebuke to North Korea. That, I think, qualifies as progress. And then NK's missile test goes kablooey. For all we know, that was the work of China--why is NYT assuming that it was the U.S. that might have engineered the failure?
NYT needs to be very careful in criticizing Trump's dealings with other nations. It is unconventional, yes. But it is not, at this point, deserving of condemnation. Bottom line, this editorial goes too far. NYT cannot possibly know what is going on behind the scenes with China, which has a huge interest in maintaining peace. So does Trump. Recognize that.
It is, granted, an entirely different brand of foreign policy than we've seen before. But, is it possible that there is a method to Trump's apparent madness? He said, time and again, on the campaign trail that he wanted to be unpredictable. And that may not necessarily be a bad thing. Certainly, foreign policy as practiced by his predecessors proved less than effective.
On some level, there's no substitute for letting your adversaries feel the ground shake and hear the boom when the mother of all bombs explodes. With North Korea, the sending of a naval task force is the sort of thing lots of presidents have done. The statement from China about war clouds on the Korean peninsula was aimed as much at North Korea, maybe moreso, than at the U.S. I can't recall China ever sending such a public rebuke to North Korea. That, I think, qualifies as progress. And then NK's missile test goes kablooey. For all we know, that was the work of China--why is NYT assuming that it was the U.S. that might have engineered the failure?
NYT needs to be very careful in criticizing Trump's dealings with other nations. It is unconventional, yes. But it is not, at this point, deserving of condemnation. Bottom line, this editorial goes too far. NYT cannot possibly know what is going on behind the scenes with China, which has a huge interest in maintaining peace. So does Trump. Recognize that.
4
the vast majority of the missiles shot at syria missed their mark, some widely
if trump decides to attack n/k w cruise missiles, most of them will land on seoul
a tragedy, true, but hey, lets have another piece of that beautiful maraloco chocolate cake
1
Trump's interest in North Korea has nothing to do with whether that regime is good or bad but whether destroying it will boost his popular ratings. Ever the showman. Ratings mean everything to him. The fact that messing with North Korean could cause an apocalyptic nuclear war that might kill millions does matter. Just so he and his survive well off like Bashar Assad.
1
The Republican Party, perfectly encapsulated by the Trump administration, has gone "full retard": It behooves ourselves to give up the conceit that they can formulate an effective, coherent strategy.
Trump has to put North Korea on notice the days of bowing, bending over, placating, apologizing, acquiescing...are over.
How exactly is he supposed to do that if he doesn't, at minimum, increase the rhetorical temperature?
Being nice and respectful doesn't work with the diaper wearing Dictator of North Korea. IF it did, President Obama would have gotten the job done.
For better or worse, It's on Trump's back now.
How exactly is he supposed to do that if he doesn't, at minimum, increase the rhetorical temperature?
Being nice and respectful doesn't work with the diaper wearing Dictator of North Korea. IF it did, President Obama would have gotten the job done.
For better or worse, It's on Trump's back now.
3
Trump has great survival instincts:6 bankruptcies,2divorces,1 recording: "I can grab women by the p***,they let me cause I'm a star." Now the biggest of all-did he commit treason 2win WH?
He is narcissistic enough 2 see all from what's good 4 him. Assad's chemical attack gave him best opportunity to change news cycle, divert public' attention. Kill 3 birds with 1 stone-humiliate Obama (Trump hates him & is jealous/envious), enforce redline & internat'l community's no on chemical weapons, assuage Ivanka's distress of seeing dead babies; MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHANGE NEWS CYCLE & DIVERT ATTENTION fm FBI/House/Senate Intel investigations.
If public doesn't hound GOP House Senate Intel Cmtes to connect dots fast & House Ways &Means to vote Trump's taxes made public, we will have war in N.Korea? Syria? Yemen? In addition to killing some bad guys, US military members will die & a lot of civilians in other parts of the world.
This issue #1, otherwise a sufficient # of Americans will be fearful & willing to let strong Daddy protect & take care of us.
Shame on media for falling for Trump's RUSE!
He is narcissistic enough 2 see all from what's good 4 him. Assad's chemical attack gave him best opportunity to change news cycle, divert public' attention. Kill 3 birds with 1 stone-humiliate Obama (Trump hates him & is jealous/envious), enforce redline & internat'l community's no on chemical weapons, assuage Ivanka's distress of seeing dead babies; MOST IMPORTANTLY, CHANGE NEWS CYCLE & DIVERT ATTENTION fm FBI/House/Senate Intel investigations.
If public doesn't hound GOP House Senate Intel Cmtes to connect dots fast & House Ways &Means to vote Trump's taxes made public, we will have war in N.Korea? Syria? Yemen? In addition to killing some bad guys, US military members will die & a lot of civilians in other parts of the world.
This issue #1, otherwise a sufficient # of Americans will be fearful & willing to let strong Daddy protect & take care of us.
Shame on media for falling for Trump's RUSE!
The country now has a barely functioning learning impaired fool sitting in the White House. Here is a man that can't put a simple sentence together and struggles to read what's put in front of him.
This man, in all likelihood, had to have North Korea and Syria pointed out to him on a map. He is clueless and dangerous, and his bellicose, inanely irresponsible rhetoric has put this country's intentions in question with the rest of the world. He is a threat to peace. He speaks from pure uninformed ignorance and hubris.
Donald Trump wants war, murder and mayhem. He wants this done in his name to perpetuate his twisted sense of importance. He's the king of fools. He's a harbinger of death and destruction.
This man, in all likelihood, had to have North Korea and Syria pointed out to him on a map. He is clueless and dangerous, and his bellicose, inanely irresponsible rhetoric has put this country's intentions in question with the rest of the world. He is a threat to peace. He speaks from pure uninformed ignorance and hubris.
Donald Trump wants war, murder and mayhem. He wants this done in his name to perpetuate his twisted sense of importance. He's the king of fools. He's a harbinger of death and destruction.
2
Sanctions. Hm. Kim Jong-un has clearly demonstrated that as long as he can eat, he doesn't care if the rest of his country starves. Any other ideas?
2
Anybody else feel that the moab was intended to soften us toward the next big thing?
1
I am appalled at the stream of international threats that have come from the Trump administration these last months. Threats are not diplomacy and threats have and will be counterproductive to diplomatic efforts.
On North Korea, we need to follow the diplomatic lead of China which lead has and will make for peace. We need to stop threatening.
On North Korea, we need to follow the diplomatic lead of China which lead has and will make for peace. We need to stop threatening.
13
Yes, let's avoid bombast and clearly communicating that he cannot continue to terrorize everyone willy- nily; let's instead tell them that they cannot cross a read line.
1
I have never disliked anyone in my life till Trump, a vulgar individual whom I heartedly have come to hate. He has no regard for the well-being of Americans---not even his constituents. He cares nothing for women's rights, has no interest in the national health service Americans deserve, is unduly cruel to immigrants
who deserve our care, and is eager to preserve the religious rights of a minority that few Americans belong to. He even seeks to actually impose these undemocratic minority religious rights on the majority. And we ARE the majority!
He treats a difficult task: the presidency as a lark. He vacations each weekend and leaves the government to business cohorts who know zero of world politics . In short he is an evil racist who should not be president and does not represent America any more than any other selfish fascist authorial dictator.
who deserve our care, and is eager to preserve the religious rights of a minority that few Americans belong to. He even seeks to actually impose these undemocratic minority religious rights on the majority. And we ARE the majority!
He treats a difficult task: the presidency as a lark. He vacations each weekend and leaves the government to business cohorts who know zero of world politics . In short he is an evil racist who should not be president and does not represent America any more than any other selfish fascist authorial dictator.
42
Any strategy to end the North Korean threat based on the resort to violence (euphemism: military action) is profoundly stupid and extremely dangerous. Trump’s and Kim’s exchange of threats make it increasingly difficult for each to avoid action that would be a death sentence to thousands or millions in yet another man-made tragedy that could last years or indefinitely, especially if other nations become involved. North Koreans have suffered a pretty miserable existence for decades with little choice but to go along with what the current Kim dynasty ruler decides. And that today is as much a product of our knee-jerk axis-of-evil rhetoric and policies against his state as anything generated from within it.
As a state with a successful economy and decent lives for its citizens, North Korea’s nuclear weapons program will be even more pointless than it is now. The US should stop threatening North Korea and work with South Korea, China, Japan, and other nations to help that country effect that change. It may not worth doing but neither is a resort to violence and its often unexpected untoward consequences.
As a state with a successful economy and decent lives for its citizens, North Korea’s nuclear weapons program will be even more pointless than it is now. The US should stop threatening North Korea and work with South Korea, China, Japan, and other nations to help that country effect that change. It may not worth doing but neither is a resort to violence and its often unexpected untoward consequences.
9
"Mr. Trump needs to be firm, not reckless in his talk, ratchet up sanctions and find a way to engage the North in negotiations."
In what CNN termed "Trump's 'hard power budget", the Department of State is projected to take a 28% cut, while Defense is projected to receive a $54 Billion increase. As Mick Mulvaney, Trump's OMB director stated, "This is a hard power budget and that was done intentionally. The President very clearly wants to send a message to our allies and our potential adversaries that this is strong power administration."
With that mindset already in place, questions arise: With Gen. Mattis at Defense and Gen. McMaster as National Security Advisor, what are chances a more diplomatic solution will prevail, particularly in the wake of Syria and Afghanistan? What are chances that our depleted and demoralized State Department will be engaged to convince our allies, if we have any left, to enact additional restrictive sanctions against North Korea?
While the political commentator Kevin Phillips might say, "Mr Trump is all hat and no cattle," Trump himself is very intent on proving Mr Phillips wrong -- as evidenced in Syria and Afghanistan, Mr Trump believes in shooting first and asking questions later (or not).
The chances for cooler heads to prevail and a coherent (U.S.) strategy to emerge in this sandbox squabble between these two infantile bullies are nearly the same: slim to none.
In what CNN termed "Trump's 'hard power budget", the Department of State is projected to take a 28% cut, while Defense is projected to receive a $54 Billion increase. As Mick Mulvaney, Trump's OMB director stated, "This is a hard power budget and that was done intentionally. The President very clearly wants to send a message to our allies and our potential adversaries that this is strong power administration."
With that mindset already in place, questions arise: With Gen. Mattis at Defense and Gen. McMaster as National Security Advisor, what are chances a more diplomatic solution will prevail, particularly in the wake of Syria and Afghanistan? What are chances that our depleted and demoralized State Department will be engaged to convince our allies, if we have any left, to enact additional restrictive sanctions against North Korea?
While the political commentator Kevin Phillips might say, "Mr Trump is all hat and no cattle," Trump himself is very intent on proving Mr Phillips wrong -- as evidenced in Syria and Afghanistan, Mr Trump believes in shooting first and asking questions later (or not).
The chances for cooler heads to prevail and a coherent (U.S.) strategy to emerge in this sandbox squabble between these two infantile bullies are nearly the same: slim to none.
11
You don't count the dead when God's on your side. (Dylan)
This administration is full of thieves, hucksters, grifters and Elmer Gantry's. All looking for the rapture or the end of times or a quick payoff. Not a good outlook for the rest of us.
Trump's got to prove his is bigger than everyone else's. Again not a good outlook for the rest of us.
This administration is full of thieves, hucksters, grifters and Elmer Gantry's. All looking for the rapture or the end of times or a quick payoff. Not a good outlook for the rest of us.
Trump's got to prove his is bigger than everyone else's. Again not a good outlook for the rest of us.
1
Trump should invite Kim Jong to Florida for a round of golf.
7
I fixed one of your sentences: "What's missing in the White House is a coherent president..."
8
This caution may sound like wisdom from the NYTimes but, if we can't tolerate NK being able to, at any moment have a 30% chance of wiping out millions of Americans, we will need to change strategies. The old one is leading NK toward this capability. Showing a willingness to use force is a good move and, if war eventually becomes inevitable, now may, in fact, be the time as every moment increases the cost. It is sad but simple logic.
If we don't want to take this approach, spell out a clear way to turn NK back that isn't the same failed approach of the last 16 years.
If we don't want to take this approach, spell out a clear way to turn NK back that isn't the same failed approach of the last 16 years.
3
I think the best alternative to what the current administration is doing is to just give NK exactly what it wants. It will end up there anyway and why not spare everyone the annoying pretense that it could be otherwise?
I get that people still hate Trump, but to see so many comments essentially taking sides with North Korea is something else. What motivates this? Appeasement? Fear? The fact that the safest thing to do is demonize Trump and blame America first?
If you were North Korean, you could not ridicule your leader as easily as we can in the USA. I wish more people would factor this in, at least, before reflexively cheering for the other side all the time.
Nobody wants a war, but a lot of us want this pestering nation to go away--one way or the other.
If you were North Korean, you could not ridicule your leader as easily as we can in the USA. I wish more people would factor this in, at least, before reflexively cheering for the other side all the time.
Nobody wants a war, but a lot of us want this pestering nation to go away--one way or the other.
10
"One way or the other". Pretty cavalier when considering it could result in the death of millions. Grownups work things out. Petulant children like Kim and Trump stomp their feet and demand attention. Trumps inexperience and incompetence is a threat to world peace. Thanks deplorables.
1
You don't play at war, something the Donald and his mindless minions will never understand.
2
DZ Why are we opposed to bombing North Korea? Geezus there are people living there who know even less about their crazy president than we know about our own insane leader. Both of them are equally dangerous and could destroy the world. If you are sleeping well in the US you are foolish,
2
"....likely reinforcing North Korea’s longstanding fear that it could one day be attacked by America — the very reason North Korea invested in a nuclear arsenal in the first place." That is great statement, but few people may understand why. The North Korean regime is the most paranoid in the world, they think everyone is out to get them, yet nobody is! We have no interest in them whatsoever. They have structured their entire country as a military state based on their own fear and our reinforcing of that fear. Since it is nothing more than a perception (paranoia is sub-conscious, likely inherited in ones DNA from evolution, and the most common symptom is the sense that everyone is out to get you). Whatever actions the rest of the world takes has to consider their fears. Positioning 30,000 troops on their border reinforces the perception. Maybe we should consider pulling out.
3
When you elect an idiot, you receive idiotic policies- why is this a surprise to any intelligent person?
19
Two madmen with nukes. One a complete novice, the other a successful dictator. What could possibly go wrong?
19
The best chance to peaceably overthrow this lunatic is frequent, mass droppings of pamphlets contrasting life in North Korea with life in South Korea.
3
RIght.
And make Kim Jong-un look ridiculous. Cartoons, TV, internet. Ridicule is the best weapon against a nut.
And make Kim Jong-un look ridiculous. Cartoons, TV, internet. Ridicule is the best weapon against a nut.
2
fly into n/k airspace and you will be shot down instantly
1
We are the new North Korea…
6
Trade between China has expanded rather than reduced.
Given these numbers, you are unlikely to see a change in behavior by North Korea.
Escalation through military force has the potential to lead to massive casualty numbers.
However, simply allowing N. Korea to refine their nuclear capabilities is likely to make these numbers look even worse over the next 4 years.
Allowing a country that consistently threatens the US with nuclear annihilation seems short sighted for both the US and the world.
It is possible that military action may be the best long term alternative however it’s time for the US administration to begin thinking more than one step in advance.
President Trump might benefit more from chess lessons than additional time on his twitter account.
Given these numbers, you are unlikely to see a change in behavior by North Korea.
Escalation through military force has the potential to lead to massive casualty numbers.
However, simply allowing N. Korea to refine their nuclear capabilities is likely to make these numbers look even worse over the next 4 years.
Allowing a country that consistently threatens the US with nuclear annihilation seems short sighted for both the US and the world.
It is possible that military action may be the best long term alternative however it’s time for the US administration to begin thinking more than one step in advance.
President Trump might benefit more from chess lessons than additional time on his twitter account.
4
When twos poker players, each devoid of reality, each try to outbluff each other no one knows what the outcome will be, but the result would not be catastrophic foe the world. Neither Mr. Trump and Mr. Kim not ordinary poker players, so I hope civilization will survive.
2
Did you really mean to use "White House" and "coherent strategy" in the same sentence, or were you just having fun?
5
Negotiate with this little tyrant who maintains concentration camps like his father and grandfather? Surely you're joking.
There must be a grand bargain of some kind with China. They don't want the entire peninsula under the control of the West, and they don't want refugees pouring into their country. Somehow, we must persuade China to take action as follows. Give the punk an ultimatum. He and his wife can live in exile in China or he will be terminated. The generals around him must be persuaded that the regime will be changed, and China will install an upper echelon to run the government for the time being. If the generals cooperate, they will be allowed to stay on. If not, they will be eliminated. And, of course, in preparation for this, China will need to put a lot of troops on their border with NK.
There really is no other solution. This tyrant cannot be allowed to continue. The nukes must be removed and safely decommissioned. The concentration camps must be opened and their occupants freed, and for the time being China must take over North Korea. And, part of the bargain would be the removal of American troops from the South.
There must be a grand bargain of some kind with China. They don't want the entire peninsula under the control of the West, and they don't want refugees pouring into their country. Somehow, we must persuade China to take action as follows. Give the punk an ultimatum. He and his wife can live in exile in China or he will be terminated. The generals around him must be persuaded that the regime will be changed, and China will install an upper echelon to run the government for the time being. If the generals cooperate, they will be allowed to stay on. If not, they will be eliminated. And, of course, in preparation for this, China will need to put a lot of troops on their border with NK.
There really is no other solution. This tyrant cannot be allowed to continue. The nukes must be removed and safely decommissioned. The concentration camps must be opened and their occupants freed, and for the time being China must take over North Korea. And, part of the bargain would be the removal of American troops from the South.
1
With all the traits you've noted, haven't you recognized the numerous similarities between the two?
1
Trump was exceptionally critical of Pres. Obama in Syria for drawing a red line in the sand and then leaving the impression of weakness by not following through, as promised.
That criticism is well founded. But Trump appears to be doing the same thing in North Korea. His "art of the deal" seems to apply to everything. He ran his real estate empire using bombast, "hyperbole" (lies), and threats to intimidate his opponents. Intimidation and threats won't work; Kim Jong Il uses Trump's techniques himself.
North Korea is an exceptionally complex situation with them having over 1 million soldiers, and Seoul being only 35 miles from the DMZ, any war would almost certainly be very destructive to South Korea.
If the US is "going to take care of it" if China doesn't help, we can only hope that Mr. Trump is doing vastly better in his planning and strategy than he has done in every big effort he's attempted so far in his Presidency. But we all know he doesn't have a strategy for anything. More than likely, he'll continue with bombing, the tactic that gained him accolades in the press in Syria and Afghanistan. But this viper will bite back.
That criticism is well founded. But Trump appears to be doing the same thing in North Korea. His "art of the deal" seems to apply to everything. He ran his real estate empire using bombast, "hyperbole" (lies), and threats to intimidate his opponents. Intimidation and threats won't work; Kim Jong Il uses Trump's techniques himself.
North Korea is an exceptionally complex situation with them having over 1 million soldiers, and Seoul being only 35 miles from the DMZ, any war would almost certainly be very destructive to South Korea.
If the US is "going to take care of it" if China doesn't help, we can only hope that Mr. Trump is doing vastly better in his planning and strategy than he has done in every big effort he's attempted so far in his Presidency. But we all know he doesn't have a strategy for anything. More than likely, he'll continue with bombing, the tactic that gained him accolades in the press in Syria and Afghanistan. But this viper will bite back.
3
Trump is the dumbest president in our lifetime. Since when did Biff of "back to the future" become the hero of the deplorable's. Did they think that character had any redeemable qualities? A Conniving ruthless bully. What a role model for America. The ugliest of the ugliest on Display for the rest of the world.
2
Funny -- until it's tragic -- how not one commenter to this editorial has mentioned that millions of South Koreans and others living in Seoul -- and not just the 27,000 American soldiers in the countryside -- could die if Trump or Kim start firing. But Trump and Kim are not the only crazies. So-called South Korean leaders (O.K., so some of them are in jail at the moment) don't have the guts to tell America to stand down until told to stand up. Instead, they think it's reassuring to tell us that Trump will consult the South Korean government before firing. Really? Like, "We're going to launch the Tomahawks, just wanted to let you know"? Wake up, everyone. We're here in Seoul, not far from the front lines of North Korean rocket launchers, we're human beings like you, Joe Blows with our own mundane cares. Nothing special, but it's a life on a par with yours, I'm sure. The perverse omission of our humanity could make one think there's once again (remember the Vietnamese?) something both racist and self-hating going on.
9
Yes, it seems that the current plan is to consult South Koreans after millions of them are dead! And the reason for that, as you probably know by now, is that Mr. Trump does advertise his "secret war plans"!
Let's face the reality. As long as he is "winning", Mr. Trump does not care about the death of a couple of million "beautiful children" in South or North Korea. Children's death only bothers him when they happen somewhere close to Saudi Arabia or Israel.
Let's face the reality. As long as he is "winning", Mr. Trump does not care about the death of a couple of million "beautiful children" in South or North Korea. Children's death only bothers him when they happen somewhere close to Saudi Arabia or Israel.
Where is Congress as the belligerent talk escalates? They have a constitutional responsibility to reign in the Executive branch. There must be a few sensible MoCs that can speak out, call Trump's generals in front of committees and demand a Plan! It is just a matter of when, not if, the world order blows up.
7
Mike Morrel on Charlie Rose strongly cautioned against an escalation of threats, rhetoric and actions like steaming ships close to North Korea in attempts to intimidate "Kim". It will only serve to convince him of his core belief, that America prime intention is to attack North Korea. He also suggests that China would be content with containment, a cold war type of standoff that prevents nuclear action by stemming a first strike. He recommends a strategy that convinces Kim that if he deploys a nuclear weapon, against anyone, of any size, that the US will absolutely wipe North Korea off the map. The US does this by increasing defenses in South Korea, Japan, and along our West coast - anti-nuke missiles in particular - with China's blessing, and wait for the Kim regime and North Korea to implode. It may take years. This is the first time I have heard anything that smacks of a plan, a strategy. I don't pretend to know enough to judge the efficacy or common sense of this, but it certainly beats the alternative of nuclear war. I would like to hear more "stuff" like this - not sabre rattling, tweats, empty or stupid threats, or news-catching rhetoric that appeals to an impatient public. I would, at least, like it acknowledged that a strategy is being formed, and that a plan will be implemented concerning North Korea based upon the best information our intelligence community can muster. One deployment of one nuclear weapon changes everything.
9
!? he ran on ignorance, overconfidence and bombast. it's why he was elected by the 'folks'....the nyt is expecting him to stop now??
How about Alec Baldwin and Donald Trump trade places? We'd all enjoy SNL without the fear that something catastrophic will happen before the next episode.
4
You can have a fully thought-out and consistent strategy but not be able to achieve your desired outcome - which in the case of the US is to halt North Korea's march towards nuclear ICBMs. That's a fair description of the Obama Team's past efforts.
So now you have Team Trump (mainly the military) deciding it will threaten to play down the other branch of the game tree. It may not be fully consistent but they're seeing if it might help them reach the desired objective? Our rusty recollection of game theory suggests this is a situation when one side (North Korea) plays a "tremblng-hand" strategy (non-zero probability it does something really crazy) and the other side (the US) also switches to a trembling-hand strategy. Not enough analysis to know if this will throw us completely off the old "solution" Onto something completely different. In any case, it'll be stupid of The Generals to rely completely on mathematical deduction. And historically in the US we have precedents of when The Generals didn't always get it right.
Dangerous? You bet. Worth it? If it delays North Korea one year? Five years? 10 years?
So it's too cavalier to conclude uncertainty is an advantage for the US - it depends on your time horizon and whether you achieve something in the interest of the US you could not have otherwise. But the converse may also be true, if in the long run North Korea gets its ICBM anyway.
So now you have Team Trump (mainly the military) deciding it will threaten to play down the other branch of the game tree. It may not be fully consistent but they're seeing if it might help them reach the desired objective? Our rusty recollection of game theory suggests this is a situation when one side (North Korea) plays a "tremblng-hand" strategy (non-zero probability it does something really crazy) and the other side (the US) also switches to a trembling-hand strategy. Not enough analysis to know if this will throw us completely off the old "solution" Onto something completely different. In any case, it'll be stupid of The Generals to rely completely on mathematical deduction. And historically in the US we have precedents of when The Generals didn't always get it right.
Dangerous? You bet. Worth it? If it delays North Korea one year? Five years? 10 years?
So it's too cavalier to conclude uncertainty is an advantage for the US - it depends on your time horizon and whether you achieve something in the interest of the US you could not have otherwise. But the converse may also be true, if in the long run North Korea gets its ICBM anyway.
1
LOOSE LIPS Sink Ships. And can trigger the launch of missiles. Trump has no idea what he's doing about anything. Having Pence pinch hit for Trump is cold comfort, as Pence's extremist ideology has shown him to be rigid, authoritarian and punitive as a governor.
2
Because Obama's strategy of strategic worked so well in NK that there is no issue now. And because Obama's strategy of leading from behind worked so well in the ME. Because ...
1
Between Kim's military parades and Donald's missile launch and MOAB drop, Freud would have a field day with these two.
If only they were both 10 years old instead of acting like 10 year-olds, I'd feel a lot better about this nonsense.
If only they were both 10 years old instead of acting like 10 year-olds, I'd feel a lot better about this nonsense.
3
This is what comes from a cowboyish, go it alone, we don't need experts administration- they don't understand the code with which N. Korea speaks.
If anyone in the White House bothered to read history instead of watching Fox news they'd get this: the more N. Korea rattles sabers the more they are telling us something like, "We had a terrible wheat harvest- we need your help."
It may seem ridiculous or out dated but that is they way N. Korea learned to deal with the world.
Where is Congressman Bill Richards when we REALLY need him?
If anyone in the White House bothered to read history instead of watching Fox news they'd get this: the more N. Korea rattles sabers the more they are telling us something like, "We had a terrible wheat harvest- we need your help."
It may seem ridiculous or out dated but that is they way N. Korea learned to deal with the world.
Where is Congressman Bill Richards when we REALLY need him?
Seeing the MOAB bomb lobbed against the caves in Afghanistan made people worldwide shudder: is this the test run for North Korea? Trump is emotionally unfit for precisely the scenario which now envelops us.
2
Avoid "overconfidence and bombast?" Are you kidding? That's all our President Trumpet is.
3
Two ego-maniacal baby-men with very little knowledge, spells disaster.
2
Many of these posts sound like they're coming from North Korea.
No patriotism just complaints.
Move if you don't like it!
No patriotism just complaints.
Move if you don't like it!
1
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.” Theodore Roosevelt
1
God help us.
2
Oh darn. Somebody go ring up Jared and Ivanka, tell them to fix North Korea. Some of the groundskeepers and grapevine pruners they know should be able to dismantle the nuclear weapons. (PS Tell them there's skiing in nearby Japan ... they can Google Hokkaido and Niseko.)
3
Why is it necessary for Pence to show up with his mommy to do America's business?
2
I think the anxiety I have felt since Trump was elected in November has gotten much worse in the past several weeks, and I think the nation is feeling the same anxiety. I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis and how close we came to going to nuclear war with Russia. That crisis was over in three days. This is like the death of a thousand cuts.
Donald Trump hasn't got a clue about how to be president. He is playing at being president as if this was a reality show, and his macho talk and fighting tweets only reflect a naivete that is mind-boggling. North Korea has nothing to lose by pushing the nuclear button.
American and the world cannot make that same statement.
Donald Trump hasn't got a clue about how to be president. He is playing at being president as if this was a reality show, and his macho talk and fighting tweets only reflect a naivete that is mind-boggling. North Korea has nothing to lose by pushing the nuclear button.
American and the world cannot make that same statement.
69
You are right. I am afraid this will be a never-ending Cuban Missile Crisis, John Kennedy was someone who could accept responsibility and admit when he made a mistake. Our current president is incapable of ever admitting imperfection.
1
Word for word what I've been feeling. Visited my doctor last week, and we talked about the epidemic of anxiety she, and other doctors at the clinic, are seeing in increasing numbers since November 8. I'm going to Hong Kong this week for meetings. I pulled up a map of Asia yesterday to gauge the distance between North Korea and Hong Kong Island. That's the type of anxiety Trump has caused with his stupidity, his belligerence, and his threatening tweets to the equally insane leader of North Korea.
I take a bit of hope from Louise Mensch (Heat Street, Patribotics) who published on her blog yesterday that there is an actual video tape that Page took to Moscow in July promising Trump would promote "pro-Putin" policies if elected, including softening (ending?) the sanctions. And that this tape has been seen by intelligence communities in both Europe and the U.S.
But will the investigation reach a conclusion before Trump starts WWIII? Who ever thought we would be asking ourselves such questions as these? We have segued from thoughtful, sane, patriotic, compassionate Barack Obama to this narcissistic 70-year-old toddler terrorist as President. Trump voters......What. Were. You. Thinking?
I take a bit of hope from Louise Mensch (Heat Street, Patribotics) who published on her blog yesterday that there is an actual video tape that Page took to Moscow in July promising Trump would promote "pro-Putin" policies if elected, including softening (ending?) the sanctions. And that this tape has been seen by intelligence communities in both Europe and the U.S.
But will the investigation reach a conclusion before Trump starts WWIII? Who ever thought we would be asking ourselves such questions as these? We have segued from thoughtful, sane, patriotic, compassionate Barack Obama to this narcissistic 70-year-old toddler terrorist as President. Trump voters......What. Were. You. Thinking?
1
It is disturbing that Trump made the decision to rattle his weapons after a ten minute conversation with Mr Xi over chocolate cake. This is clear evidence that Trump wasn't prepared by his handlers for the meeting. How is Trump going to make it through the rest of his term if he is too lazy and too unprepared to prep for a meeting with foreign dignitaries? Kushner is reported to have boned up on diplomacy at the ski lift. Is this administration living in an alt reality universe of TV and video games?
65
Two idiots with silly haircuts threaten the lives of millions.
Can we not just put them in a cage fight and let them duke it out on their own?
Can we not just put them in a cage fight and let them duke it out on their own?
5
Sometimes a blowhard like Trump comes across to a kook looking intelligent like a Putin or a LePen. A wierdo like Fearless Leader and haircut-deprived North Korean Kim needs a realty check no matter how clueless its source. A world awash in nukes capable of ending life on our planet is not more insane than two misfits with fingers itching to unleash them. World, get a grip dammit, even if only for your kids.
1
Americans and New york Times think their patchwork language , patchwork constitution, patchwork anglican, are the only way forward. American grub food is the only food and the American way of doing things is the only way forward.
ever heard of je ne sais quoi factor the east where all knowledge originated has it and won't be wiped off the map.
The day the Americans and British learn to reason the US and UK would collapse.
Keep holding on to my comments moderator as if your page is the only page.
ever heard of je ne sais quoi factor the east where all knowledge originated has it and won't be wiped off the map.
The day the Americans and British learn to reason the US and UK would collapse.
Keep holding on to my comments moderator as if your page is the only page.
Gee Whiz Editors, there is no way to disagree with your well thought out and well written Editorial except that it addresses the likely thought process of the Baboon that we have somehow elected to be President. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are facing a damned if we do and damned if we don't future. With the Baboon in charge, who knows what that future brings.
11
You're on the right track, although I'm not so sure he was anymore properly elected than W was.
They are the ones who started it- they have advanced their nuclear program under 5 separate U.S. Presidents [some of whom much smarter than our current one] - It's up to China to diffuse this- and if China wants to continue to play games -may be we'll help-may be we won't- Oh well they have had fair warning. We will level that place and let China pay for the clean-up. South Korea and Japan are just as tired of North Korea's games as we are- and they don't like China any more than we do. Time for some shock and awe- Keep on Rockin' in the Free World!
1
What is the only difference between Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump?
Geographic location.
Geographic location.
8
What exactly is coherent strategy when dealing with a madman? Remember Hitler, there is no consistent strategy in some cases. All previous Presidents let the N. Koreans develop their missile and atomic program. It's hard to hold Trump accountable. And when N. Korea has intercontinental ballistic missiles which can reach continental U.S. how is the TIMES going to feel?
2
You'd think that after Chamberlain the left would have learned a lesson about appeasement and how not to stop wars. But learning and rational thought are not the left's strong suit, so once again the left is on the wrong side of history. How many millions will die this time because of failed leftist policies?
2
You are of course referring to the leftist policies of:
Nixon
Ford
Regan
Bush the elder
Bush the younger
Commies, every one of them!
Nixon
Ford
Regan
Bush the elder
Bush the younger
Commies, every one of them!
Mr. Trump too frequently sounds like his nemesis, Kim Jong-Un. We can only hope they are not equally crazy.
2
During the Cuban missile crisis, cool heads saved us from a catastrophe. With Donald Trump in the White House, we are unlikely to be so lucky.
8
Trump and Kim comprise a self feeding negative feedback loop. They are two peas in the same pod and not in a good way.
3
Drunks with shotguns.
8
What i personally would be instrested in knowing is when this current congress is going to start impeachment proceeding against this president for high crimes an misdemeaners as well as for political corruption for being a traitor to this country with his cozy ways with the Russians an for his failure to release his taxes so as to be transparent with the american people they should have denied him the right to be sworn into the office of the presidency until such time as his taxes are made public for all to see what deals he has made with the russian government to possibly sell out the U..S.A. to the russian when he has so many employees with in his adminstration that are being required to register as a foregian agents thank you
How about a dose of reality. You do not deal with a rogue mafioso state by paying it Danegeld. North Korea should have been decisively dealt with 20 years ago, when it first started embarking on its nuclear program. Every president from Clinton onwards had kicked the can down the road. This is the last chance, we are in overtime.
Insanity is defined as repeating the same action and expecting a different result. For over two decades America has constantly repeated the same actions, and always ends up surprised when it reaps the same result. Time to play a new game, one based on the fact that evil does exist, and Kim is as evil and deranged in his way as Hitler was, and is therefore a menace to humanity and cannot be tolerated. This means doing whatever is required to eliminate him and his odious mafiosi regime, including the use of force.
Insanity is defined as repeating the same action and expecting a different result. For over two decades America has constantly repeated the same actions, and always ends up surprised when it reaps the same result. Time to play a new game, one based on the fact that evil does exist, and Kim is as evil and deranged in his way as Hitler was, and is therefore a menace to humanity and cannot be tolerated. This means doing whatever is required to eliminate him and his odious mafiosi regime, including the use of force.
Yes, indeed, that is Einstein's definition of inanity, which begs the question why the US public, after electing a moron president, that is George H.C. Bush (H.C. = Hanging Chad), who initiated two wars, elects another moron and expects a different result.
Now that the new president has the taste of missile strikes in his mouth it will be an easy leap for a ignorant & shallow man to order more strikes in an attempt to prop up his sagging poll numbers. For someone who obviously has no empathy for others the whole idea of peoples lives at stake and the fate of nations in the balance it will be easy to screw up here. One hopes that Mattis, McMasters, and others can restrain the man child.
Very dangerous times ahead.
Very dangerous times ahead.
2
Once again George Bush was correct in including North Korea in the axis of evil. If only Obama had done his job we wouldn't be in this mess. Way to go Obama - yet another Obadisaster for Trump to clean up
why didnt bush do HIS job
or do you ever think anything through
2
trump is a complete and utter moron. He is playing with fire here. Unfortunately, he now has the taste for approving military action. That must feed greatly into his fragile, narcissistic ego. It was telling when he relived his moments of the Syrian strike, including the beautiful, chocolate cake.
3
After 8 long and deadly years of the incompetent, emotionally fragile, egomaniac man-child fool Obama doing nothing in the White House, it's a pleasure having an adult in charge
Calm down, you will hurt yourself.
3
Why don't you just stand there instead of do something?
1
Until I read the article and comments I never knew the North Korean KGB had so many agents on its payroll
1
If the DPRKm is unhappy with DT our "prezadnt" they should complain to his master(s) in MOscow. Surely these people have enough dirt and loan paper on the "Winner" that they should be ble to make him sleep out in the rain, in a dognouse.
He is some other nation's creation and the other nation ought to taker responsibility.
(I warned of the danger of DPRK in 2002, when G. Bush decided to abandon Afghanistan and invade Iraq. I warned against their construction, oo soon, of nuclear weapons.
Now they have them . If our "prxzdin" won't act-then dear leader needs to beg -or demand-that his Russian friends to act for him. Trump is weak and ignorant enough that he can be pushed around -he would have trouble with the concept of a round earth.
Putin's minions built him-let them control their creation! Even Victor Frankenstein regretted his ambitious assumption of the place and prerogatives of God and so spent his last years chasing his monster creation to the ends of the earth, only to be defeated by his own genius and thus, die of exhaustion , in his vain attempt to halt him.
Unlike Trump-Frankenstein's creation seems to have understood his part and responsibility in the ruin of his creator.The Monster disappeared, apparently deprived of it's one reason for existence.
What will Putin do for his clients-those little DPRK minions ?
it is time for a new China to do so, as the DPRK exists only to protect their border from infection by South Korean and Japanese commercial bacilli.
He is some other nation's creation and the other nation ought to taker responsibility.
(I warned of the danger of DPRK in 2002, when G. Bush decided to abandon Afghanistan and invade Iraq. I warned against their construction, oo soon, of nuclear weapons.
Now they have them . If our "prxzdin" won't act-then dear leader needs to beg -or demand-that his Russian friends to act for him. Trump is weak and ignorant enough that he can be pushed around -he would have trouble with the concept of a round earth.
Putin's minions built him-let them control their creation! Even Victor Frankenstein regretted his ambitious assumption of the place and prerogatives of God and so spent his last years chasing his monster creation to the ends of the earth, only to be defeated by his own genius and thus, die of exhaustion , in his vain attempt to halt him.
Unlike Trump-Frankenstein's creation seems to have understood his part and responsibility in the ruin of his creator.The Monster disappeared, apparently deprived of it's one reason for existence.
What will Putin do for his clients-those little DPRK minions ?
it is time for a new China to do so, as the DPRK exists only to protect their border from infection by South Korean and Japanese commercial bacilli.
1
Trump continues as the non-thinking, un-reasonable, non-adult he is and sends his "soft spoken" Pence to deliver the same stupid message. Trump won't release his tax returns but is willing to start a war. When will impeachment start for this insane so-called president.
5
This is the pefect storm for trump enabling him to raise a false flag operation aimed at distancing himself from his Russian overlords in the face of increasing public and congressional scrutiny in regards to the 2016 elections. That it's absoluting lethal stuff he's recklessly playing with doesn't matter.
7
What is needed in the White House is a coherent President—not a part-time, minimally civil, offensively tweeting, bombastic, hyperbolic, questionably capable, egotistically petulant playboy.
Our so-called president, the"captain of our ship," lacks the judgement and the tact to deal with diplomacy. He has refused to learn the protocol involved in dealing with other national leaders. He seems to think that anyone who has a firm handshake, nice smile, b-i-g pocketbook, and who compliments him gratuitously is an ally. His lack of loyalty to those that are his chosen advisers and friends would certainly give any other national leader pause to trust him.
So-called President Trump is an embarrassment to the office that he holds and, consequently, an embarrassment to our country. Disregarding the importance of his position, he handed over control of a looming international crisis to his security advisor, who, although more competent than the president should have the president close at hand at such times. Instead the most powerful man in the world parties with the immodestly wealthy at his ostentatious billionaires club, undisciplined enough to come back to the White House to host a timely national Easter egg roll. Happy belated Easter, kids.
What's wrong with Congress? Put some limits on this power-hungry joke.
Do I hear someone sneering "Let them eat jelly beans".
Our so-called president, the"captain of our ship," lacks the judgement and the tact to deal with diplomacy. He has refused to learn the protocol involved in dealing with other national leaders. He seems to think that anyone who has a firm handshake, nice smile, b-i-g pocketbook, and who compliments him gratuitously is an ally. His lack of loyalty to those that are his chosen advisers and friends would certainly give any other national leader pause to trust him.
So-called President Trump is an embarrassment to the office that he holds and, consequently, an embarrassment to our country. Disregarding the importance of his position, he handed over control of a looming international crisis to his security advisor, who, although more competent than the president should have the president close at hand at such times. Instead the most powerful man in the world parties with the immodestly wealthy at his ostentatious billionaires club, undisciplined enough to come back to the White House to host a timely national Easter egg roll. Happy belated Easter, kids.
What's wrong with Congress? Put some limits on this power-hungry joke.
Do I hear someone sneering "Let them eat jelly beans".
3
Trump is a clear and present danger to not only Americans but also to Japanese, Korean, Chinese and people around the world. Loose talks from Trump and his Secretary of State only backs the US into a corner as it takes away other options and compromises. This is not how the affairs of state are handled because the consequences of miscalculation are too great unlike the costs of a failed business deal or venture. How could a great democracy like the US end up like this?
1
Did Regan Bush1,Clinton, Bush 2 or Obama have a coherent strategy to stop N.Korea from developing nuclear weapons? Before N.Korea had nuclear weapons they were protected from US invasion by China's nuclear weapons. Kim obviously, doesn't want to depend on China to deter any invasion. But Kim is also using nuclear weapons to avoid a collapse of his failed state. Kim has no ideology, since China is now engages in state capitalism and the Soviet Union no longer exists. On this issue of what to do about Kim's nuclear weapons, Trump is encountering the same problems that previous presidents failed to solve.
I humbly disagree with the import of this editorial. If US statements persuaded NK to postpone its next nuclear test, is that not a welcome development? Both China and NK have depended on US passivity and predictability for the last 30 years to pursue their respective agendas, and they have been rewarded handsomely.
Much of the criticism I read of the US reaction to developments in the Korean Peninsula seems to hinge on US and Western fears of NK intentions and capabilities. NK seems to have frightened the rest of the world with its bombast.
I am no fan of Mr. Trump, but he seems to have called NK's bluff. Kim Jong-un wore a suit and tie (vice military clothing) for the 105th anniversary celebrations over the weekend, did not test a bomb, and the NK media that I read did not mention the USA.
Keep in mind that Kim Jong-un is surrounded by elderly military officials who have experienced war first hand. I do not for one moment believe that these officials have any intention of allowing the young man in charge of the regime to attack Seoul under any circumstances, including a US strike against NK nuclear facilities with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
I suspect that they would assassinate the chubby young man, rather than risk regime suicide that would follow a devastating strike on South Korea.
Much of the criticism I read of the US reaction to developments in the Korean Peninsula seems to hinge on US and Western fears of NK intentions and capabilities. NK seems to have frightened the rest of the world with its bombast.
I am no fan of Mr. Trump, but he seems to have called NK's bluff. Kim Jong-un wore a suit and tie (vice military clothing) for the 105th anniversary celebrations over the weekend, did not test a bomb, and the NK media that I read did not mention the USA.
Keep in mind that Kim Jong-un is surrounded by elderly military officials who have experienced war first hand. I do not for one moment believe that these officials have any intention of allowing the young man in charge of the regime to attack Seoul under any circumstances, including a US strike against NK nuclear facilities with Tomahawk cruise missiles.
I suspect that they would assassinate the chubby young man, rather than risk regime suicide that would follow a devastating strike on South Korea.
1
There should have been negotiators in place courting N. Korea on day one of this administration. It was the #1 issue according to his predecessor, like Al Quaida was for Bush 2. Instead, over 100 days in, we hear reckless talk and no effort at diplomacy. Unpreparedness and a lack of plans has been the hallmark of this Presidency on just about every issue other than regulatory repeal to help donor corporations. Ethically and intellectually challenged with no thought for the people of this country or its allies.
2
"Courting" North Korea?
Why, so that Pyongyang can continue to spit on us and laugh while that accelerate their nuclear and missile programs?
Why, so that Pyongyang can continue to spit on us and laugh while that accelerate their nuclear and missile programs?
1
Some sobering thoughts before anyone allows Trump to accidentally escalate this:
There are over 30,000 Americans in South Korea, most stationed there on 15 bases.
North Korea has subs that could kill thousands, maybe millions, on our West Coast before we knew what hit us.
Putin is not twiddling his thumbs on this -- we don't know what Russia will do if this unravels.
There are over 30,000 Americans in South Korea, most stationed there on 15 bases.
North Korea has subs that could kill thousands, maybe millions, on our West Coast before we knew what hit us.
Putin is not twiddling his thumbs on this -- we don't know what Russia will do if this unravels.
2
The presence of 30,000 Americans in South Korea is precisely why NK will not risk regime suicide by attacking there.
As for the subs you mention: what makes you think that diesel-electric NK submarines could reach the West Coast of the USA? And undetected, no less? As for killing "millions" of Americans... how on earth would that happen? With the imaginary nuclear-tipped missiles that NK does not possess?
As for the subs you mention: what makes you think that diesel-electric NK submarines could reach the West Coast of the USA? And undetected, no less? As for killing "millions" of Americans... how on earth would that happen? With the imaginary nuclear-tipped missiles that NK does not possess?
Russian my pounce on us during any escalation with North Korea. And the Chinese might join them. There will be no love lost for anyone around the world with Trump as president. We must impeach him now. I don't have to see his tax returns to know what's in them. He's undermining of America. His deplorable's are his fools. He appeals to the baser instincts. We must take back America. Now!
Perhaps the "great negotiator" has been outmaneuvered by Prsident Xi Jinping on North Korea. China got what it wanted by getting Trump to back off on imposing tariffs by telling North Korea to cool it on the nuclear threats, but still continue the sabre-rattling as usual. Mission accomplished. The Chinese leaders are no fools. Let Trump feel that he is 'winning' on North Korea but keep keep your eye on the prize: no retaliatory trade tariffs by the US.
2
Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. The ultimate horror-scenario. One has no strategy. The other is hell-bent on self-destruction. And both have nuclear weapons.
The similarities don't stop there.
Both are tempestuous. Both have Daddy-issues. Both can't bear the thought of losing, which makes all the macho blustering, and threats of one-up-manship even more dangerous.
And the fact that Donald Trump is no Diplomat, and has effectively dismantled the U.S. State Department, makes any hope of future negotiations with North Korea, questionable.
Unless cooler heads, or China prevails, this chapter will have a catastrophic ending, because Kim Jong-un won't stop his nuclear testing until he is within striking distance, and Trump has a new bomb.
The similarities don't stop there.
Both are tempestuous. Both have Daddy-issues. Both can't bear the thought of losing, which makes all the macho blustering, and threats of one-up-manship even more dangerous.
And the fact that Donald Trump is no Diplomat, and has effectively dismantled the U.S. State Department, makes any hope of future negotiations with North Korea, questionable.
Unless cooler heads, or China prevails, this chapter will have a catastrophic ending, because Kim Jong-un won't stop his nuclear testing until he is within striking distance, and Trump has a new bomb.
5
I hope that Trump and Pence realize that if we strike North Korea, NK will unleash its conventional and possibly nuclear weapons on Seoul, South Korean/US military bases, and possibly Japan. There are about 25 million people just south of the DMZ, and they are probably getting nervous right now. A first strike by the US would throw the SK economy into chaos (at best), or result in tremendous losses of life and infrastructure in both Koreas (at worst).
6
To desire a conflict in Korea is total madness. Anyone who thinks this is okay because we can ultimately crush North Korea is completely out of touch with reality. The Korean peninsula is armed to the teeth and on a hair trigger. The potential for conventional destruction on both sides of the border is very high and way too real. We stand to lose thousands of our own troops - not to mention tens of thousands of Korean civilians and the destruction of Seoul - within the first few minutes of serious hostilities breaking out. Diplomacy is the answer here. Unfortunately our Liar In Chief knows nothing about diplomacy. Truly scary times.
10
The one good thing that might emerge from this is a nation of American voters finally understanding the dangers that come from mistaking narcissistic hubris for responsive leadership.
19
April 17, 2017
It may be advantageous for White House talks be by Korean Language from American to Korean to encourage the affirmation of dialogues. Somehow the years and years of direct conversations with the leader and leaders of North Korea seemingly is dissipated in a black hole of nothing or as said lose talk, talking that remains inertia and problematic to the advancement of diplomatic eloquence and changes that can accommodate all parties to this seriously potent engagements with results to move forward to more mutual respects - as for example the work in America with our Red Star Cuba - this template is advancing and with effective talks ongoing for results for its people and a brighter future for all the peoples on earth - seeking rational business commerce and tolerances to effect a healthy and wonderful sharing for diversity in on humanity's future.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
It may be advantageous for White House talks be by Korean Language from American to Korean to encourage the affirmation of dialogues. Somehow the years and years of direct conversations with the leader and leaders of North Korea seemingly is dissipated in a black hole of nothing or as said lose talk, talking that remains inertia and problematic to the advancement of diplomatic eloquence and changes that can accommodate all parties to this seriously potent engagements with results to move forward to more mutual respects - as for example the work in America with our Red Star Cuba - this template is advancing and with effective talks ongoing for results for its people and a brighter future for all the peoples on earth - seeking rational business commerce and tolerances to effect a healthy and wonderful sharing for diversity in on humanity's future.
jja Manhattan, N.Y.
2
There is only one way we can move forward. It will not be with threats of force. War will lead to devastation in Japan and South Korea. It will be with diplomatic engagement. China needs us as much as we need them. China would want peace around their neck of the woods rather than US Navy Strike forces. US and China need to engage North Korea. Perhaps even identify moderate elements if any in North Korea. There is always some. We just need to find them. All said it might come to removal of their leader some day but for now we have to deal with the devil. But we have in the past - we have dealt with dictators and thugs and kept peace. Pronouncements of China appear more mature than the US. Stating we bombed Syria and Afghanistan and we can no tolerance for you is not a smart strategy. North Korea has nothing to lose when inevitable arrives. Japan and South Korea have everything to lose and sooner we realize that the better we all will be.
5
"War will lead to devastation in Japan and South Korea."
That is precisely what North Korea wants the rest of the world to think.
I do not think that the elderly generals in charge of the North Korean military have any intention of listening to orders from a chubby tyrant, which will lead to the destruction of the North Korean regime.
That is precisely what North Korea wants the rest of the world to think.
I do not think that the elderly generals in charge of the North Korean military have any intention of listening to orders from a chubby tyrant, which will lead to the destruction of the North Korean regime.
1
They might spare South Korea but not Japan - the hatred for Japan never ceased since World War II
The premise that we can dictate behavior to any country we choose, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, to name a few, is based on our presumed wisdom and rectitude. But by any standard we are the most militarily violent and aggressive country on earth, with a military that has developed the capability to destroy virtually any target on earth without the loss of a drop of American blood.
If there was a notion held anywhere that presumes we are a country of benign intent, the Trump presidency should clear that up. With regard to North Korea our position is simple, we have the innate right to target as many nuclear laden ICBMs as we wish on that country. North Korea, on the other hand does not have the right to even aspire to reciprocity. I think it's only the proximity of South Korea that has prevented us from an all out, "back to the stone age", bombardment.
Diplomacy that simply consists of our telling North Korea our non-negotiable position won't work. It has to understand and consider the logic of the other side.
If there was a notion held anywhere that presumes we are a country of benign intent, the Trump presidency should clear that up. With regard to North Korea our position is simple, we have the innate right to target as many nuclear laden ICBMs as we wish on that country. North Korea, on the other hand does not have the right to even aspire to reciprocity. I think it's only the proximity of South Korea that has prevented us from an all out, "back to the stone age", bombardment.
Diplomacy that simply consists of our telling North Korea our non-negotiable position won't work. It has to understand and consider the logic of the other side.
6
South Korea and Japan have to speak up and put this mad man in his place. It is those countries that will be attacked. And I am not talking about Kim.
We should not "ratchet up sanctions". It hasn't done anything up to this point but help starve the North Korean population. We should engage them, maybe even start trade. That is really the only sane way out of this.
And by the way. The media on TV (CNN, CNBC, FOX is is adding fuel to the fire with their irresponsible reporting and over selling of the government line that N Korea is somehow a threat to us. Yes they test missiles, & they test nukes, but so does every one else. This government and the media act like Kim is just going to get up one day and decide to lob a ICBM at us. Knowing full well we would and could annihilate his country in a couple minutes.... Open up talks and start trading. That is the same thing we did with China 45 years ago.
We should not "ratchet up sanctions". It hasn't done anything up to this point but help starve the North Korean population. We should engage them, maybe even start trade. That is really the only sane way out of this.
And by the way. The media on TV (CNN, CNBC, FOX is is adding fuel to the fire with their irresponsible reporting and over selling of the government line that N Korea is somehow a threat to us. Yes they test missiles, & they test nukes, but so does every one else. This government and the media act like Kim is just going to get up one day and decide to lob a ICBM at us. Knowing full well we would and could annihilate his country in a couple minutes.... Open up talks and start trading. That is the same thing we did with China 45 years ago.
5
Trump is acting like he is having a verbal bout with Rosie O'Donnell.
11
American policy toward North Korea has been a failure for 20 years across multiple administrations from both parties. For the NYT to attack Pres. Trump for trying to deal with it is just another example for the utter contempt the paper has for Trump whatever he does. There are no good solutions to this situation only the least worse ones. But can this president or any US president allow the North Koreans to attain the ability to hit the continental US with a nuclear warhead?
3
What's the "failure"? You realize the Kim dynasty has its own ideas about North Korea, right?
That's like seeing Oklahoma's policy toward wind as a failure because tornadoes continue to happen.
The difference is, the potential disaster of the Kims mostly only affects N. Koreans. Our policy toward Korea to this point has been successful in that no Kim has spun out of control and leveled anything within range.
That's like seeing Oklahoma's policy toward wind as a failure because tornadoes continue to happen.
The difference is, the potential disaster of the Kims mostly only affects N. Koreans. Our policy toward Korea to this point has been successful in that no Kim has spun out of control and leveled anything within range.
The failure was that the goal of US policy was to stop them from developing a nuclear weapon.
1
If it comes to war, it will not be Kim who started it, but -- having just seen Gaddafi's fate after giving up his nuclear program -- Kim and his ultra-loyal people will certainly see it to the end.
Jared and Steve should send Donald on a rally tour to let this episode blow over.
Jared and Steve should send Donald on a rally tour to let this episode blow over.
6
I am not so sure that Trump's very thoughtless randomness is not exactly what is needed to scare Mr. Kim into watching his steps a bit more closely than he has had to under more predictable and uniformly consistent foreign policy from Clinton through Obama. Who knows. All options are pretty ugly. And why would China want to stop Kim?
During the election campaign we all saw how Mr. Trump, in response to his supporters' applause and cheers, was ratcheting up his rhetoric and mindlessly attacking Mrs. Clinton and anyone he considered to be opposing him. Now, with encouragements and high-fives he is getting for his jingoistic, belligerent, foreign policy from the Republican establishments, he must be very pleased with himself. And, knowing how a narcissist mind work, rest assure he is now thinking of unleashing the US military power on the population of another poor country.
Undoubtedly, it has not escaped Mr. Trump that the more he is pushing the nationalistic and the chauvinistic views of the US far-right, the less talk there is about his troubling Russian connection. May be "the master of distraction" has unwittingly come across the mother of all distractions!
Undoubtedly, it has not escaped Mr. Trump that the more he is pushing the nationalistic and the chauvinistic views of the US far-right, the less talk there is about his troubling Russian connection. May be "the master of distraction" has unwittingly come across the mother of all distractions!
4
"Loose talk"? It isn't loose talk if he really means it.
Loose talk is proclaiming a line in the sand and then doing nothing when that line is crossed.
Loose talk is proclaiming a line in the sand and then doing nothing when that line is crossed.
2
If the Mad King and his republican minions will poison our air, food and water here, why wouldn't they spread the blessing, via nuclear war, to the entire world.
Think of the money they would all make.
Think of the money they would all make.
5
Strange that after decades of denial, the left now becomes concerned about an American president actually facing the reality of a nuclear North Korea lead by an unpredictable despot. Kicking the can down the road has led to a disastrous situation. Loose disingenuous talk by previous presidents has generate this crisis, not Mr. Trump.
1
If Kim really wants to be safe, he'll open a Trump Hotel in Pyongyang.
7
OK I'm not an expert on foreign affairs, but what I see is an unstable, immature Korean leader who has access to nuclear warheads and is developing missiles capable of reaching the North American continent. So far as I can tell, he is capable of shooting off a nuclear bomb at San Francisco, a step from which there is no going back.
I understand that there is almost nothing that President Trump can do which would get the approval of the NYTimes. But still, what concrete suggestions would you make to improve this situation?
I understand that there is almost nothing that President Trump can do which would get the approval of the NYTimes. But still, what concrete suggestions would you make to improve this situation?
I thought Trump was gonna make Amerispca great again. You know? Fix health care, bring back coal jobs, and build that wall that Mexico is gonna pay for. Don't get sidetracked Donnie. Let China and Russia handle it the same way they've been handling you.
Trump likes TV. He should queue up the movie 13 Days about JFK dealing with the Cuban missile crisis. He might learn something .
2
DJT engaged in loose talk about it being okay with him for Bashir to remain in office. That was misinterpreted as a signal that a quick-and-atrocious halt to the rebellion with WMDs would be tolerated. Then, DJT did what BHO or any other POTUS would have done. Thankfully, there is little opportunity to make that mistake with KJU. The mistake DJT is likely to make is to start some sort of circuitous negotiation that will gratify KJU's craving to be taken seriously on the world stage. That would let KJU buy time while under less than the most effective sanctions the rest of the world could erect. The rest of the world should be weaving the best noose of sanctions it possibly can, to strangle KJU!
Here's how I see this unfolding when you have two demented obese narcissistic power mad lunatics facing off against each other: Kim Jon-un will do some inconsequential macho thing, i.e. launching a missile in the general direction of nowhere; Trump will use it as an excuse to launch some cruise missiles at some equally meaningless military site in North Korea (as he did in Syria) so he can prove how tough he is; Kim Jon-in will retaliate by dropping a nuclear device on Seoul, South Korea thereby obliterating a few million people to prove how tough he is; Trump will retaliate by dropping a few dozen nukes on North Korea thereby obliterating most of North Korea and its 25 million people - everyone except Kim Jon-in who will be safely hiding in the deepest pit in the world; and shortly after all those millions of people are dead Trump will declare he's now solved the North Korea problem, with such declaration coming about two minutes before the nukes from Russia and China start being fired off out of fear of Trump striking them with nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile after the nuclear dust has settled with half the worlds population dead and most of the rest about to die from the ensuing nuclear winter chances are Trump, Putin, Kim Jon-in, and the guy from China will all be safe and sound in their luxurious nuclear bomb proof bunkers, at which point Trump will proudly declare he fulfilled his promise to get rid of Obamacare.
Meanwhile after the nuclear dust has settled with half the worlds population dead and most of the rest about to die from the ensuing nuclear winter chances are Trump, Putin, Kim Jon-in, and the guy from China will all be safe and sound in their luxurious nuclear bomb proof bunkers, at which point Trump will proudly declare he fulfilled his promise to get rid of Obamacare.
1
"... Kim Jon-in will retaliate by dropping a nuclear device on Seoul, South Korea thereby obliterating a few million people to prove how tough he is."
WRONG. NK does not possess the means to deliver a nuclear device; nor have they managed to develop the means to place a nuclear device atop a missile..
I wish the NYT would publish an article detailing what NK's capabilities actually are.
WRONG. NK does not possess the means to deliver a nuclear device; nor have they managed to develop the means to place a nuclear device atop a missile..
I wish the NYT would publish an article detailing what NK's capabilities actually are.
1
This Administration and the Republican Congress are NOT capable of exercising restraint in this matter or any other matter. This is the largest assembly of self serving and self aggrandizeing wealthy maggots ever seen governing America. Unfortunately, we will suffer mightily from these individuals, either WWIII or the destruction of our democracy and economy. In summary, this is the agenda Trump and Bannon have cobbled together.
3
Trumpers - you got what you wanted.
2
Dump Trump is not JFK ON THIS DAY
On April 17, 1961, about 1,500 C.I.A.-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro.
On April 17, 1961, about 1,500 C.I.A.-trained Cuban exiles launched the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in a failed attempt to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro.
In the thriller "Michael Clayton," attorney-fixer George Clooney schooled the thugs from Big Ag: "You don't KILL me. You BUY me." This has been the case for a long time with North Korea. For a poor, starving country, nuclear missiles are the least expensive defense... a deterrent and a bargaining chip. You give them food or machinery or face-saving in return for concessions on the military side. You need to take the threat seriously, but not literally. And especially not as an opportunity to display your own "toughness."
Donald Trump is nothing but "loose talk."
Fair (except for emitting the THAAD’s radar effect) and with prudent policy-recommendations (no “better safe than worry” alarmism a la Iraq and Iran), is this really a NYT editorial on a potentially global nuclear crisis my eyes are reading? Holidays’ spirit?
Coherent strategy?
Please. The adults in the White House left on January 20th. President Bannon is sitting in his tent, while Jared-of-all-Hats Kushner has too many plates in the air to come up with an approach that might be productive. As far as the five-year-old sociopath with the rapid-fire thumbs, the constant, and only, thought in his tiny brain is, "It's all about me-me-me."
Please. The adults in the White House left on January 20th. President Bannon is sitting in his tent, while Jared-of-all-Hats Kushner has too many plates in the air to come up with an approach that might be productive. As far as the five-year-old sociopath with the rapid-fire thumbs, the constant, and only, thought in his tiny brain is, "It's all about me-me-me."
1
I think NY Times should reword the title here. It's more than "loose talk". Trump is in charge of the military. Example - MOAB in Afghanistan......
One has to wonder about "men" like Trump and Kim Jong-Un. Saber rattling and empty threats. I went to grammar school with people like this........grammar school............one would expect this stupid nonsense from kids. Not grown men.
1
You are talking to the mentally ill and I doubt the mentally ill doesn't understand anyways.
1
Too late. This moronic president will make all of the wrong choices because that's who he is. He is now being allowed to put the entire world in danger and I wonder how long he will be left in place. This is crazy and self destructive. He must be removed.
1
The Tweets are made for public consumption, NYT. They are there merely for feedback. The real plans are going on behind closed doors. When will you finally realize this?
1
Anyone who voted for this bellicose imbecile bears a share of the responsibility if there is a nuclear exchange. Trump is pathetic as are his supporters.
1
I think your article is totally biased against President Trump. The New York Times have this preconceived idea he is unfit for the job, and you keep on repeating it, over and over again. Meanwhile, the man is changing the way your system works, Washingtonians & journalists. And he is dealing with North Korea in a way you all disapprove. Well, wake up. Be humble. Be one. That's what the world is currently, and impatiently, expecting from the American bourgeoisie. But you are too full of your certitudes to even see it. That is my point of view.
1
I think it's within U.S. military capability to take out, swiftly, the elite leadership of N. Korea with few of Korean lives lost. Just do it -- and cut the cancerous mole that is N. Korea off the face of the earth.
1
And if you guess wrong?
2
Kim Jong-un of North Korea and Donald Trump of the US are the least qualified leaders in the world. it is a horror story that they are the ones making the decisions about what happens between North Korea and the United States. It makes me shudder to think of all of the stupid things either one of these men may do in this situation.
1
Trump has lost his mojo. His inner confidence has evaporated. He is running on bombast and taking existential risks - for us all - with his impulsive actions. He cannot even get out of his house to talk to the American people. His rating are so low that he fears there will be no adoration.
When instinct and confidence are the methods by which you have created your world - built with other peoples money and effort - there is no need for self examination. Denial is what he is fueled by.
Now, after three months of low ratings and a nationally exhibited visceral detestation, Trump, the lazy thinker with a massive information deficit, is encountering the consequences of his limitations as a man and as a leader. The sheer weight of negativity would be a blow to anyones confidence.
Without intellectual curiosity or enough relevant information what is this man to do? He becomes a victim to those forces that can see and act upon his vulnerabilities.
He is unfortunately The President of The United States of America.
When instinct and confidence are the methods by which you have created your world - built with other peoples money and effort - there is no need for self examination. Denial is what he is fueled by.
Now, after three months of low ratings and a nationally exhibited visceral detestation, Trump, the lazy thinker with a massive information deficit, is encountering the consequences of his limitations as a man and as a leader. The sheer weight of negativity would be a blow to anyones confidence.
Without intellectual curiosity or enough relevant information what is this man to do? He becomes a victim to those forces that can see and act upon his vulnerabilities.
He is unfortunately The President of The United States of America.
95
Two loose cannons capers are cuttin'
With a thumb on the nuclear button,
Keep both fingers crossed
For an hour tempest tossed
With Trump and his counterpart struttin'.
With a thumb on the nuclear button,
Keep both fingers crossed
For an hour tempest tossed
With Trump and his counterpart struttin'.
3
The world will be in mortal danger if Kim Jong-Un get ICBM"s. He must be eliminated immediately through targeted strikes, and preparations to blunt any counterattack with overwhelming military might. Kim's development of nuclear weapons should have been nipped in the bud long ago. Trump must now have the wisdom and courage to do what I'm suggesting before it is too late to do anything about it.
16
Wisdom, courage and Trump. Which of these things does not go together?
2
"Trump must now have the wisdom and courage to do what I'm suggesting before it is too late to do anything about it."
Whew! For a minute I was worried. But my concerns are alleviated now that I see Trumpit's steady hand is on the tiller of the ship of state.
Donald, listen to Trumpit, p-l-e-e-e-e-se!
Whew! For a minute I was worried. But my concerns are alleviated now that I see Trumpit's steady hand is on the tiller of the ship of state.
Donald, listen to Trumpit, p-l-e-e-e-e-se!
1
The problem is that Donald Trump is not your man to negotiate. He undoes all the good that his solid and grounded advisers are capable of by virtue of his pathetic tweeting and ill considered and often incoherent comments. This is very serious and needs highly skilled negotiation skills.
Sadly, Trump has neither the intellect, the capacity or the attention span to lead the U.S. (and the rest of the world) through this crisis. HE is the apprentice here. Let's hope there are enough wise heads around him to ensure he spends lots of time on the golf course whilst others work through this mess.
8
One would think that you might show a bit of reluctance to challenge Trump's more muscular approach to North Korea given the fact that for 20 years U.S. presidents have followed your advice exactly, with nothing to show for it. The mad dictator of the north continues his quest for the only thing that can justify the starvation and suffering of his people, a doomsday bomb. Our reluctance to confront reality has resulted in unstable, poorly governed states such as Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea developing nuclear technology. We either confront the issue or continue to hide our heads in the sand. Thank God we have a president whose strategy is not kick the can to the next administration.
2
Nothing to show for it? How 'bout 60 years of peace on the Korean peninsula? A generally ignorant public is hurting the U.S. beyond description.
3
Poor Trump believes that might comes solely from military strength; perhaps some young captain should explain to him the elements of national power. Military might is but one element and very dependent on the others.
The old Soviet Union forgot this when it squandered its national treasure on the military and not the entire population and economy. The Soviets failed in Afghanistan and the US failed in Iraq for the very same reason - too much military and not enough civilian development. After all Shinseki got the numbers right.
Meanwhile, Trump focuses on international saber rattling and war to distract from domestic failures and investigations. A young captain could also teach him that this behavior is the first resort of weak, incompetent leaders
The old Soviet Union forgot this when it squandered its national treasure on the military and not the entire population and economy. The Soviets failed in Afghanistan and the US failed in Iraq for the very same reason - too much military and not enough civilian development. After all Shinseki got the numbers right.
Meanwhile, Trump focuses on international saber rattling and war to distract from domestic failures and investigations. A young captain could also teach him that this behavior is the first resort of weak, incompetent leaders
5
Most of us don't know a lot about North Korea. We see it through the lens of our own history in the Korean War, the clash of communism and capitalism, and the present development of nuclear capability.
As President Xi told President Trump, it's more complicated than that. What he could not tell Donald Trump is that China has its own political issues and even its own immigration problems. It seems likely that hordes of North Koreans pouring into China would be just as destabilizing as the hordes of Muslims from the Middle East has been to Europe. That North Koreans and Chinese look alike to us doesn't change the perception of differences from another perspective.
The most difficult foreign policy challenges rest on the fact that, quite often, there are no good solutions. Defensive postures look offensive. What leaders want to prevent is more important than what they want to happen.
I'm pretty sure that the generals working for the administration understand the complexities. If they think that a military solution ought to be the answer, that may be because they understand those solutions better than others. Diplomacy may seem to be inadequate and the Trump view is that diplomacy is over-rated. His mandate, such as it is, is to bluster and bully his way to imposing his will on other nations. Most American don't want to see South Koreans, Japanese or American troops killed in a demonstration of power. It's not so clear what North Korean leaders want.
As President Xi told President Trump, it's more complicated than that. What he could not tell Donald Trump is that China has its own political issues and even its own immigration problems. It seems likely that hordes of North Koreans pouring into China would be just as destabilizing as the hordes of Muslims from the Middle East has been to Europe. That North Koreans and Chinese look alike to us doesn't change the perception of differences from another perspective.
The most difficult foreign policy challenges rest on the fact that, quite often, there are no good solutions. Defensive postures look offensive. What leaders want to prevent is more important than what they want to happen.
I'm pretty sure that the generals working for the administration understand the complexities. If they think that a military solution ought to be the answer, that may be because they understand those solutions better than others. Diplomacy may seem to be inadequate and the Trump view is that diplomacy is over-rated. His mandate, such as it is, is to bluster and bully his way to imposing his will on other nations. Most American don't want to see South Koreans, Japanese or American troops killed in a demonstration of power. It's not so clear what North Korean leaders want.
1
An accident is what I fear most -- not the calculated event, but the uncalculated one.
1
Waging war by early morning tweets.
Our only hope is that he rarely does what says, and that he'll move on to something else.
Our only hope is that he rarely does what says, and that he'll move on to something else.
2
What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy, something beyond statements and asking China for help. Mr. Trump needs to be firm, not reckless in his talk, ratchet up sanctions and find a way to engage the North in negotiations.
'nuff said.
'nuff said.
18
Why on earth would anyone in a position of power in the US spell out our strategy?
The trick here is to restore deterrence and get North Korea to back down.
Uncertainty is a critical element in this approach.
Why given them information about our intentions?
The trick here is to restore deterrence and get North Korea to back down.
Uncertainty is a critical element in this approach.
Why given them information about our intentions?
So far cooler heads like National Security adviser H. R. McMaster seemed to have prevailed. Perhaps, we're seeing "a good cop, bad cop" scenario play out where China is exerting pressure to get North Korea to stand down. However, the failed missile test indicates that North Korea may not be susceptible to such pressure due to Kim Jong-un's paranoia about regime change. The real fear with such an unstable leader there as well as one here is the catastrophic MADness of a pre-emptive first strike.
1
Now is the time for President Trump to show off his renowned negotiating skills.
Kim Jong Un is, like his father and grandfather before him, a rational actor, and is playing the “strongman” role like Trump. Let’s see the two bullies at the negotiating table with China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea (the six-party framework), and the U.N. Security Council. Perhaps the president was briefed on previous efforts to deal with North Korea while at Mar a Lago this past weekend.
It seems North Korea ratchets up the tensions when they need something, whether relief from sanctions, like food aid and oil, as well as recognition, and attention. Unfortunately, North Korea has also felt threatened for decades and for that reason has been developing nuclear capabilities and ICBMs. The clock is ticking Mr. President.
Kim Jong Un is, like his father and grandfather before him, a rational actor, and is playing the “strongman” role like Trump. Let’s see the two bullies at the negotiating table with China, Russia, Japan, and South Korea (the six-party framework), and the U.N. Security Council. Perhaps the president was briefed on previous efforts to deal with North Korea while at Mar a Lago this past weekend.
It seems North Korea ratchets up the tensions when they need something, whether relief from sanctions, like food aid and oil, as well as recognition, and attention. Unfortunately, North Korea has also felt threatened for decades and for that reason has been developing nuclear capabilities and ICBMs. The clock is ticking Mr. President.
With so much noise and little thought to what is being said, there is bound to be a moment when one leader says the wrong thing tucked between one sound blast and another. The room will get awfully quiet and then run for the exit.
2
"Chickenhawk-a person who strongly supports war or other military action, yet who actively avoids or avoided military service when of age."
Well we had our fill of them during the lead up to the Iraq War. Cheney, and Wolfowitz to name two and their propaganda pitch. Now we have two more, Trump and Tillerson. Yes, Obama never served in the military, but no one can ever accuse him of wanting to take gambles on preemptive military action. Slow, methodical, cautious he was. And you couldn't ask for a better Secretary of State than John Kerry.
Trump and Tillerson had best review the Korean War conflict and see how that all turned out. There's a reason why we have had thousands of troops stationed there for decades. No peace, just stalemate.
I'm 74 and all this saber rattling and "War" has been going on my entire life. Very disheartening to say the least. Will it ever end?
Well we had our fill of them during the lead up to the Iraq War. Cheney, and Wolfowitz to name two and their propaganda pitch. Now we have two more, Trump and Tillerson. Yes, Obama never served in the military, but no one can ever accuse him of wanting to take gambles on preemptive military action. Slow, methodical, cautious he was. And you couldn't ask for a better Secretary of State than John Kerry.
Trump and Tillerson had best review the Korean War conflict and see how that all turned out. There's a reason why we have had thousands of troops stationed there for decades. No peace, just stalemate.
I'm 74 and all this saber rattling and "War" has been going on my entire life. Very disheartening to say the least. Will it ever end?
4
Ironic that histories most clueless and unqualified leaders appear to be the two who are pushing us fastest down the path of complete destruction of humanity. The sad thing in all this of course is, Trump was elected here by the same ignorance that North Korea relies on there. Stupidity and ignorance appear to be as powerful as nukes. I wonder how much the media will sell ads for when they cover the end of the world?
2
The problem is that the US can only do what South Korea is willing to allow. Remember, we have 28 thousand troops at the DMZ but millions could die should matters get out of hand. Someone, perhaps China should explain to Kim Jung-un that the US would truly feel threatened if N. Korea acquired a ICBM that could reach the Mainland USA. Many feel that cannot be allowed to happen. As mentioned, many would die in a N. Korea - US confrontation, but at the end of the day, the US would still be standing and N. Korea would be gone. Negotiations with that nation have never gone well, even with Kim's father. There is no benefit to an invasion of the North since they have little that anyone wants. I suppose we could just say hey, stop the nuke program, allow inspections and we'll help in trade and we can de-militarize the 38 parallel. Every one wins. But if they come to the table with just a list of demands, we'll probably end up in conflict. I think Trump is unfit to serve and can't understand how complicated this situation is at this time. But it's N. Korea who continues to behave in a way that's threatening. I don't know how this ends but allowing Kim to possess an ICBM that can reach the US is really not a good idea. I don't want to see US military engaged anywhere in the world anymore, but the North may just continue to elevate the sabre rattling while continuing his nuke program. At some point we're going to have to kill him. This is the sad reality of the situation.
1
It is doubtful that moving an aircraft carrier and a few destroyers would deter Kim Jung-un from carrying out a nuclear test.
After all, the MOAB didn’t prevent N. Korea from proceeding with a missile test, albeit an unsuccessful one, over the weekend, just as launching 59 Tomahawk missiles didn’t stop Assad from attacking his own people in Syria.
The best military money can buy is still bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq, almost a decade and a half later. Our inability to extricate ourselves from one quagmire after another will not make other countries tremble in fear. Quite the contrary.
Trump’s twitchy Twitter fingers are not going to help either. What’s troubling is that his VP seems to have picked up his boss’s bad Twitter habit of tweeting insane things. Pence tweeted:
“Strategic patience has been the approach of last admin & beyond. That approach has failed. The era of strategic patience is over.”
Whatever the heck “strategic patience is over” means, nobody knows.
If Kim Jung-un interprets the tweet to mean an impending US preemptive strike and launches a pre-preemptive strike of his own, there is no one to blame but us. It is not as if we weren't warned by the scientists who recently moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight.
Ignoring the scientists, unfortunately, has dire consequences. When the Doomday Clock strikes, there is no need to ask for whom the bell tolls.
After all, the MOAB didn’t prevent N. Korea from proceeding with a missile test, albeit an unsuccessful one, over the weekend, just as launching 59 Tomahawk missiles didn’t stop Assad from attacking his own people in Syria.
The best military money can buy is still bogged down in Afghanistan and Iraq, almost a decade and a half later. Our inability to extricate ourselves from one quagmire after another will not make other countries tremble in fear. Quite the contrary.
Trump’s twitchy Twitter fingers are not going to help either. What’s troubling is that his VP seems to have picked up his boss’s bad Twitter habit of tweeting insane things. Pence tweeted:
“Strategic patience has been the approach of last admin & beyond. That approach has failed. The era of strategic patience is over.”
Whatever the heck “strategic patience is over” means, nobody knows.
If Kim Jung-un interprets the tweet to mean an impending US preemptive strike and launches a pre-preemptive strike of his own, there is no one to blame but us. It is not as if we weren't warned by the scientists who recently moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight.
Ignoring the scientists, unfortunately, has dire consequences. When the Doomday Clock strikes, there is no need to ask for whom the bell tolls.
2
This is scarier than the 1962 Days Of October starting with the nature of this president and cabinet, as opposed to the diplomacy and intelligence exhibited by the Kennedy Brothers and Dean Rusk. It would not be out of the ordinary to believe that, like Fidel, Kim Jong-un would be willing to sacrifice his nation in an apocalypse as long as he gets to launch nuclear strikes against S. Korea and the USA. Moreover, in Kim's case, there is no Khruschev equivalent to harness the suicidal insanity of martyrdom. This is why China's President Xi MUST be cultivated to militarily oppose Kim for the sake of world peace, not to mention economic preservation of China's largest market, the USA.
1
What’s missing in the White House is a president who has a clue about what's going on in the world. His reckless statements and idiotic tweets are incendiary and do more harm than good. Now that he's in a position of great responsibility, this president is lost and relies on his tried and true formula of bluster and threats. He doesn't understand that his loose talk can have grave results.
1
My greatest fear is donald trump. His pejorative words with other nations and our allies show no evidence of critical thinking, nor do I feel he's capable of understanding the complexities of maneuvering thoughtfully in this world of ours. The impression that he gives more thought to picking the iron he should choose on a par five fairway rather than understanding the frightening results of his careless verbiage is a terror inducing reality.
His inadequate personality, his lack of effective leadership, his pettiness and his penchant to appear macho coupled with his rampant ignorance about world affairs is for me, the monster under my bed.
His inadequate personality, his lack of effective leadership, his pettiness and his penchant to appear macho coupled with his rampant ignorance about world affairs is for me, the monster under my bed.
"What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy..."
What's missing in America is a coherent strategy for dealing with a White House that views diplomacy as complete waste of time. Prior to the election Trump claimed his 'secret plan' was central to solving ISIL and making NK behave. "Trust me," he said. Anyone who was paying attention knew this wackadoodle candidate for president out of the world's worst nightmares had to be referring to a secret plan consisting entirely of might makes right. But might only makes right for just causes. Otherwise all it does is compound wrong. As Trump stumbles his way through the immediate future - as his domestic projects for making America 'great again' fail to materialize and he becomes more and more remote and embattled, might makes right will loom larger and larger in his feeble mind as his only remaining option for winning. Americans can no longer pray, as President Obama suggested, for Trump to succeed. That way lies darkness, maybe even the end of civilization.
What's missing in America is a coherent strategy for dealing with a White House that views diplomacy as complete waste of time. Prior to the election Trump claimed his 'secret plan' was central to solving ISIL and making NK behave. "Trust me," he said. Anyone who was paying attention knew this wackadoodle candidate for president out of the world's worst nightmares had to be referring to a secret plan consisting entirely of might makes right. But might only makes right for just causes. Otherwise all it does is compound wrong. As Trump stumbles his way through the immediate future - as his domestic projects for making America 'great again' fail to materialize and he becomes more and more remote and embattled, might makes right will loom larger and larger in his feeble mind as his only remaining option for winning. Americans can no longer pray, as President Obama suggested, for Trump to succeed. That way lies darkness, maybe even the end of civilization.
4
An practical issue for nationalism is that the strategy cuts us off from the usual conduits of diplomacy. In this case, Trump--who is a four year old--is literally playing with fire. The North Koreans--or the government of any country, for that matter--know, as we do, that this President is erratic, temper-driven, and easily baited. This is an extraordinarily dangerous situation. What Americans seem to have a hard time realizing is that other countries don't believe in our sovereignty, nor are they likely anymore--especially now that the United States has so swiftly ceded the moral high ground--feel that we have any right whatsoever to legislate the behavior of other countries.
It is interesting that it has taken a President who is a surly, self-absorbed teenager to hasten the demise our authority abroad, as a nation. It's a little like being held hostage BY a teenager: Like any exhausted parent, we're pretending to pick our battles but letting him get away with murder.
It is interesting that it has taken a President who is a surly, self-absorbed teenager to hasten the demise our authority abroad, as a nation. It's a little like being held hostage BY a teenager: Like any exhausted parent, we're pretending to pick our battles but letting him get away with murder.
What Trump does not understand, continues not to understand, is the reality that he is no longer runs a real estate/branding company based on bombast and bait and switch. He is president of the United States where words matter and where there is no time to switch.
3
So, it would seem, that since the "do-nothing" strategy of the past eight has been so successful, why should President Trump rock the boat?
If we continue on this route, the North Korean problem will NEVER be resolved.
But that's, indeed, what the esteemed Editorial Board believes is the only course of action.
I'm quite thankful that the Editorial Board is not in charge of any policy of our national government...There would be no government here to need a policy.
If we continue on this route, the North Korean problem will NEVER be resolved.
But that's, indeed, what the esteemed Editorial Board believes is the only course of action.
I'm quite thankful that the Editorial Board is not in charge of any policy of our national government...There would be no government here to need a policy.
2
Diplomacy is the preferred method, but N. Korea's nuclear program must end, no matter what it takes. N. Korea is a country that issued terror threats against US theaters, forcing Sony to cancel the release of a lighthearted comedy that offended their leader. Imagine the demands and threats that a nation so easily offended and so unafraid of nuclear war will make when it can successfully launch a nuclear attack on the US. We cannot permit such a country to continue developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles and acquire the ability to attack us with them. The cost of confronting N. Korea now may be great, but it will only become greater as time goes on.
22
And since you are addressing North Korea's right (not) to create nuclear weapons to protect themselves,you should also state that the USA should not have a right to create nuclear weapons to protect themselves also. Fact is,the reality that you do not see is that the USA has caused countries like North Korea to create nuclear weapons out of fear. Reality,trump is a devil. I feel sorry for you and anyone who upholds his beliefs because whether you know it or not trump was placed in office here in the USA with the help of putin to tear the USA down from the inside out.Both are for the rich and you are not included in their flourishing plan.You really want to do something helpful then influence everyone you can to overthrow this devil we have that will snatch food out of your own mama's mouth to substain his life.
Freonpsandoz, you do realize that, if we launched a pre-emptive strike on N. Korea they could kill millions of Koreans and thousands of american troops within 20 minutes before our missiles reach Pyongyang?
2
We need find our way back to the negotiating table with China and N. Korea, hopefully bringing (with China’s help) more leverage than in past failed talks. At that point we will need to recognize that the end goal of a denuclearized Korean peninsula is unrealistic. Pyongyang sees possession of such weapons and their delivery systems as essential to deterring regime change. With the US and S. Korean forces on its doorstep and China and Japan on its periphery, North Korean insecurity is particularly acute. Negotiations need to aim at freezing further nuclear arms development in exchange for security guarantees.
1
Trump's loose talk on NK is not likely to be a calculated gambit since he has no clue , strategically, as to what he is doing in virtually any venue, much less NK.
NK is much more China's problem than the US's. Proximity alone would suggest as much. This is a good time and perfect place to acknowledge the role China should be playing in international affairs. NK's remaining economy is almost entirely reliant on China and as such puts China in the best position to moderate NK's behavior. China is much more likely to understand the NK mentality, since they have had a long ongoing relationship with them.
Just for once the US should try not to break another part of the world. It's already created enough of a mess in the ME. Considering that Trump would never accept any personal responsibility for a negative outcome to the NK situation is reason enough for the rest of the world to be concerned, if not downright frightened.
Leaving the judgement of what to do in NK to military "advisers" will likely result in military "solutions". Trump will wash his hands of any ensuing chaos and the world will be left holding the bag.
It probably won't happen, but Trump ( and the US) would be better off by letting some experienced leaders handle this situation. If the goal is to truly avoid war, China should lead the way, especially since they have have had an ongoing relationship with NK.
Any approach without a Trump has a better chance of success.
NK is much more China's problem than the US's. Proximity alone would suggest as much. This is a good time and perfect place to acknowledge the role China should be playing in international affairs. NK's remaining economy is almost entirely reliant on China and as such puts China in the best position to moderate NK's behavior. China is much more likely to understand the NK mentality, since they have had a long ongoing relationship with them.
Just for once the US should try not to break another part of the world. It's already created enough of a mess in the ME. Considering that Trump would never accept any personal responsibility for a negative outcome to the NK situation is reason enough for the rest of the world to be concerned, if not downright frightened.
Leaving the judgement of what to do in NK to military "advisers" will likely result in military "solutions". Trump will wash his hands of any ensuing chaos and the world will be left holding the bag.
It probably won't happen, but Trump ( and the US) would be better off by letting some experienced leaders handle this situation. If the goal is to truly avoid war, China should lead the way, especially since they have have had an ongoing relationship with NK.
Any approach without a Trump has a better chance of success.
1
North Korea is a challenge for even the most astute president. Mr. Trump is not in that category. Surrounding himself with ex-military men is also not helpful as the military mind sees nearly all problems through the lens of military solutions. Rattling our Tomahawk and MOAB "sabers" sends a message alright..."we've got the means and we're willing to use them". This may work with Syria, but North Korea has a long history of reacting to perceived (and real) threats with "saber-rattling" of their own. They also have legitimate fears of U.S.-South Korean invasion plans. Today, we don't know which leader is crazier and the slightest misstep in brinksmanship could easily morph into a conflagration consuming much of the Far East...and perhaps the U.S. West Coast. It's been obvious for decades that North Korea is a problem in desperate need of solution. I would feel a great deal more confident if a different administration was in charge of pursuing it.
88
"... but North Korea has a long history of reacting to perceived (and real) threats with "saber-rattling" of their own."
Precisely. Its saber-rattling. Let's not take it at face value. Rather, let's restore the US deterrent.
Precisely. Its saber-rattling. Let's not take it at face value. Rather, let's restore the US deterrent.
1
The deterrent has always been there and it hasn't prevented The North Koreans from testing missile technology nor nuclear testing. The issue is: How far do you go to prevent either? To actually follow through with the launch of cruise missiles a la Syria or conventional weapons delivered by aircraft would elicit a military response by North Korea. Then what? Do we really want another Korean land war that could ignite a far greater one? The Chinese see North Korea as an essential buffer. They might feel compelled to respond. There has never been a reasonable solution outside of regime change or occupation deterrent notwithstanding. Macho posturing carries great risk.
Some problems, you ignore them, they go away. Other problems, you ignore them, they get worse. Which kind of problem is North Korea? The NYT doesn't tell us that. What is the solution in North Korea? The NYT doesn't tell us that either. The NYT only complains about what it sees as the lack of a coherent strategy. Of course a strategy the NYT considers coherent, if there is one, might be derailed immediately if the North Korean response to the first step in the strategy is the opposite of what is expected.
Sometimes one must just act and have confidence that one will have an answer for the reaction the action produces. There is risk in any action, but arguably no greater risk than in taking no action at all.
Kim is impulsive and unpredictable and likes to flex his military muscles. Trump is exhibiting the same characteristics. Kim's missiles and bombs don't work, however. Trump's do, and his recent actions in Syria and Afghanistan have demonstrated that he is willing to use them. If as another NYT article today suggests, Kim is motivated primarily by the wish to avoid becoming another Gaddafi, the answer is not be to push further in the direction he is headed, it is to seek the protection of China, and to accept that protection on China's terms, which will be that he must get rid of the missiles and the nukes, and Trump will go along with that. That is the strategy, and it is coherent.
Sometimes one must just act and have confidence that one will have an answer for the reaction the action produces. There is risk in any action, but arguably no greater risk than in taking no action at all.
Kim is impulsive and unpredictable and likes to flex his military muscles. Trump is exhibiting the same characteristics. Kim's missiles and bombs don't work, however. Trump's do, and his recent actions in Syria and Afghanistan have demonstrated that he is willing to use them. If as another NYT article today suggests, Kim is motivated primarily by the wish to avoid becoming another Gaddafi, the answer is not be to push further in the direction he is headed, it is to seek the protection of China, and to accept that protection on China's terms, which will be that he must get rid of the missiles and the nukes, and Trump will go along with that. That is the strategy, and it is coherent.
That's like asking my cat to not to chase the mouse. Some behaviors are deeply embedded. Trump showing restraint is laughable. This administration has signaled that traditional diplomacy is out the window, and seat-of-the-pants diplomacy rules.
3
Trump has no idea of world or word matters! His tweet over the weekend that 'why should he accuse China of currency manipulation' is a prime example. He doesn't realize that his 'John WAyne' attitude, is scaring the living daylights out of the western world.
1
Wise words for restraint. But do not count on Big-Mouth Trump to exercise what he sorely lacks, common sense, and prudence; and, above all, a basic understanding of what politics (the art of the possible) can do...as opposed to 'politicking', his irresponsibly impetuous, and vulgar, boasting. Guess who is more dangerous, and insecure?
1
North Korea has been a "sleeping dog let lie" for many years, but Trump needs a distraction from his incompetance and increasing corruption. The evil is less with Trump who knows little about what he is doing, and more with the calculating acolytes surrounding him who see his dishonest rise to power as an opportunity for themselves, not our nation. Truly, we live in one of our nations darkest times.
1
"It would be risky for Mr. Trump to let overconfidence and bombast, expressed in tweets and public statements, box him into some kind of showdown with the North’s ruthless leader, Kim Jong-un, who has displayed similarly macho traits. South Korea, Japan and even Russia have urged both sides to avoid a devastating miscalculation."
Pare this down a bit and it could easily be the TV-Guide style synopsis of the current episode of the hit reality show "Apprentice President."
Any analysis of the current mess needs to take Lyin' Donnie's showman persona into account. Yes, Trump's "overconfidence and bombast" are aimed at an audience who are so divorced from history, facts and reality that they've reduced the American presidency and warfare to daily entertainment. In their world, Kim becomes the Commander-in-Chief's villainous cartoon opponent, more professional wrestler than dangerous despot.
Someone - are you listening, Javanka? - needs to tell Lyin' Donnie that continuing to act like the class cutup to get applause is going do serious damage to the brand - his and ours.
Pare this down a bit and it could easily be the TV-Guide style synopsis of the current episode of the hit reality show "Apprentice President."
Any analysis of the current mess needs to take Lyin' Donnie's showman persona into account. Yes, Trump's "overconfidence and bombast" are aimed at an audience who are so divorced from history, facts and reality that they've reduced the American presidency and warfare to daily entertainment. In their world, Kim becomes the Commander-in-Chief's villainous cartoon opponent, more professional wrestler than dangerous despot.
Someone - are you listening, Javanka? - needs to tell Lyin' Donnie that continuing to act like the class cutup to get applause is going do serious damage to the brand - his and ours.
1
After 8 years of no coherent strategy for Syria or north Korea, the evil and crazy believed they could act with impunity.This administration may not have a coherent strategy as yet but it has acted to change the calculus for those leaders.For that, it should be commended, not vilified.And before the inevitable comments appear, no,,doing nothing because you don't have a coherent strategy is not the answer, wit increasing US marginalization and worsening of the situation in both countries.
One strategy not yet discussed, at least publicly, would be a total blockade of the North, implemented ideally with China's help. What a shame that Trump, instead of asking China for "more cooperation"--whatever that means, did not specifically ask them seal off their border with North Korea--a request they, admittedly, would most likely reject.
On the other hand, they might have been willing. Given that Trump didn't specifically ask, we will never know. In any case, we have the option to close that border ourselves, with air power, and we can do it overnight--as a fait accompli. This would likely make the Chinese furious. But it's a gamble worth taking since, with our aircraft carriers positioned on the east and west (out of range of chinese silk-worm shore-to-ship missiles) we would have, without having initiated a conventional attack, a strangle-hold on the North.
We could tighten the noose until Kim Jong Un either succumbs or, in a rage, releases his firepower on Seoul. That, of course, would be a great tragedy. A blockade is, to be sure, an aggressive military action, but it is stops short of an all-out war and allows either party to step-back. It's not the same as an invasion and might lead to a way to force Kim to give up his nuclear weapons.
On the other hand, they might have been willing. Given that Trump didn't specifically ask, we will never know. In any case, we have the option to close that border ourselves, with air power, and we can do it overnight--as a fait accompli. This would likely make the Chinese furious. But it's a gamble worth taking since, with our aircraft carriers positioned on the east and west (out of range of chinese silk-worm shore-to-ship missiles) we would have, without having initiated a conventional attack, a strangle-hold on the North.
We could tighten the noose until Kim Jong Un either succumbs or, in a rage, releases his firepower on Seoul. That, of course, would be a great tragedy. A blockade is, to be sure, an aggressive military action, but it is stops short of an all-out war and allows either party to step-back. It's not the same as an invasion and might lead to a way to force Kim to give up his nuclear weapons.
It's hard to give Trump credit for anything, but the one area where he's not totally wrong is in trying to enlist China's assistance to get a handle on North Korea's impetuous boy king.
Of course, his other tossed off "statecraft", i.e., "we'll solve the problem without them" goes a long way toward mitigating any good that may arise arise from reaching out to China.
I guess we can just chalk it up to "Trump just being Trump".
The problem is, I'm not so sure North Korea gets the joke.
Of course, his other tossed off "statecraft", i.e., "we'll solve the problem without them" goes a long way toward mitigating any good that may arise arise from reaching out to China.
I guess we can just chalk it up to "Trump just being Trump".
The problem is, I'm not so sure North Korea gets the joke.
1
Part 1 of 3
It seems that no matter what President Trump does he is deemed wrong.
I agree that he should be more careful in what he says on Twitter when it comes to other nations. While he is trying to let the American people know that he is not just going to sit idly by and let an aggressive leader continue to build their strength and flex their muscles, those leaders are also reading these tweets and thinking, as the old saying goes, "them's fightin' words!"
However to say that our President has no clear strategy and is impulsive when handling foreign affairs makes me wonder, haven't you been listening to what he has said? He has repeatedly stated that he would NOT tell what he would do to combat threat's from other countries to our National security because he isn't going to give away his strategy. Is that wrong? Just for a moment compare it to a football game. A few years ago there was a team that was highly favored to win the Super Bowl. They lost by a wide margin, much to everyone's surprise, because the other team had learned their strategy. Of course I no that war isn't a game, and so does our President,. However, the principle is the same. Don't let the other guy know what you're planning to do.
It seems that no matter what President Trump does he is deemed wrong.
I agree that he should be more careful in what he says on Twitter when it comes to other nations. While he is trying to let the American people know that he is not just going to sit idly by and let an aggressive leader continue to build their strength and flex their muscles, those leaders are also reading these tweets and thinking, as the old saying goes, "them's fightin' words!"
However to say that our President has no clear strategy and is impulsive when handling foreign affairs makes me wonder, haven't you been listening to what he has said? He has repeatedly stated that he would NOT tell what he would do to combat threat's from other countries to our National security because he isn't going to give away his strategy. Is that wrong? Just for a moment compare it to a football game. A few years ago there was a team that was highly favored to win the Super Bowl. They lost by a wide margin, much to everyone's surprise, because the other team had learned their strategy. Of course I no that war isn't a game, and so does our President,. However, the principle is the same. Don't let the other guy know what you're planning to do.
1
We all keep suggesting a strategy. Deal guys don't do strategy. It's all transactions then onto the next deal.
1
North Korea built it’s nuclear weaponry out of fear that they would be attacked by the United States.
Dear Editorial Board,
Is this the only reason, or perhaps their desire to unite Korea has never died, & they needed a determent to keep the United States at bay.Why should we care if indeed North Korea did unite Korea under it’s Communist Dictatorship. We are depending upon China a Communist Dictatorship to act as a mediator between us & North Korea. What is the difference. Oh, North Korea is led by a irrational leader,who are we to judge?
Dear Editorial Board,
Is this the only reason, or perhaps their desire to unite Korea has never died, & they needed a determent to keep the United States at bay.Why should we care if indeed North Korea did unite Korea under it’s Communist Dictatorship. We are depending upon China a Communist Dictatorship to act as a mediator between us & North Korea. What is the difference. Oh, North Korea is led by a irrational leader,who are we to judge?
1
The stupidity amongst these comments is truly astounding. Here we have a legitimately insane, brutal dictator with nuclear weapons. He constantly threatens war for the slightest (or no) reason. He is the fatter, crazier version of his father (who, while brutal, at least seemed to be mostly interested in extortion, not war). Kim is much more unstable, according to defectors. They say he will push the button. We cannot tolerate this any longer. Trump's striking of Syria while dining with Xi was a master stroke (coupled with what one can only assume was a message of "we are going to handle this with or without you, so get it together and do your job").
Again--an insane dictator seems to be held in higher regard than our President. That's a sad commentary on today's political left.
Again--an insane dictator seems to be held in higher regard than our President. That's a sad commentary on today's political left.
1
The people of the DPRK already know too well the ruthlessness of its American adversary. During the Korean conflict the US bombed this country with merciless savagery. It understood that in order to resist the onslaught of the global hegemon it had to seek protection under the wing of a powerful patron or develop its own strategic deterrence. Recent history shows that countries foolish enough to resist the hegemon without it are subject to attack and destruction, usually under the guise of self-serving bogus pretexts. The DPRK is particularly vexing because it is guaranteed to be no turkey shoot. Hence the call for a negotiated solution. Can the DPRK succeed in parlaying its deterrence into an ironclad security commitment underwritten by the global powers? That remains the question.
It's worthwhile recalling that the US in 1957 unilaterally abrogated the 1953 Korean Armistice agreement when it first introduced nuclear weapons on the Korean peninsula in the form of Honest John missiles, the Atomic Cannon and Matador cruise missile capable of reaching China and Russia. Ever since the N Koreans have been trying to counter this threat by obtaining their own nuclear capability, a tactic that has been also pursued by many other nations of varying levels of autocratic rule.
For the US to argue that N Korea's desire to have a nuclear capability poses a threat to the US which is in response to the threat posed by the US after we introduced nuclear weapons there 60 years ago, appears rather specious, doesn't?
As to N Korea's leader being "ruthless" and therefore a particular danger, how exactly is his ruthlessness qualitatively different than Iran's leaders and yet the Iranians are allowed, under recent agreements, to develop missiles while retaining bomb making nuclear enrichment capabilities? Is there a racial component to all this?
For the US to argue that N Korea's desire to have a nuclear capability poses a threat to the US which is in response to the threat posed by the US after we introduced nuclear weapons there 60 years ago, appears rather specious, doesn't?
As to N Korea's leader being "ruthless" and therefore a particular danger, how exactly is his ruthlessness qualitatively different than Iran's leaders and yet the Iranians are allowed, under recent agreements, to develop missiles while retaining bomb making nuclear enrichment capabilities? Is there a racial component to all this?
1
Too many American politicians - including Trump and the Editorial Board see North Korea as a kind of whipping boy against who you can impose ever stricter sanctions and which - in the end - you can starve to death (the Yemen treatment). This is not a basis for stability and peace.
Peace and security can only be achieved by recognizing that North Korea is a country and has rights as such. Recognizing also that it has a population that has a right to prosperity and growth - no matter how ugly we may find their ruler.
Peace and security can only be achieved by recognizing that North Korea is a country and has rights as such. Recognizing also that it has a population that has a right to prosperity and growth - no matter how ugly we may find their ruler.
I find the idea that President Trump can properly manage a nuanced situation like this laughable. He has no experience, no understanding and the attention span of a three-year-old.
Let's hope the Chinese can manage North Korea.
Let's hope the Chinese can manage North Korea.
2
Nobody trusts Trump to do what needs to be done here; but the fact remains that allowing North Korea to become a nuclear nation with credible ICBMs will have disastrous consequences for the world.
If NK does then SK and Japan have no choice but to nuclearize, possibly other asian nations will follow.
Rationally China should fear NK nuclearization more than any other nation but SK -- NK has every reason to use nuclear extortion against China, and the longer-term consequence of letting NK do this will be a much more dangerous and nuclearized Asia.
The pity of it all however is that NK will not be stopped by 'now junior, calm down and eat your spinach' rhetoric or negotiation. The NK government has always gotten away with doing what it wants, because China has enabled them, AND South Korea and the US have not been willing to accept any risk or cost of stopping them.
There is no zero-risk solution here for SK. North Korea is like the school bully who took your lunch money successfully many times, just through intimidation. Just saying he must stop doesn't work. You need to be willing to punch it out, to stop it.
If NK does then SK and Japan have no choice but to nuclearize, possibly other asian nations will follow.
Rationally China should fear NK nuclearization more than any other nation but SK -- NK has every reason to use nuclear extortion against China, and the longer-term consequence of letting NK do this will be a much more dangerous and nuclearized Asia.
The pity of it all however is that NK will not be stopped by 'now junior, calm down and eat your spinach' rhetoric or negotiation. The NK government has always gotten away with doing what it wants, because China has enabled them, AND South Korea and the US have not been willing to accept any risk or cost of stopping them.
There is no zero-risk solution here for SK. North Korea is like the school bully who took your lunch money successfully many times, just through intimidation. Just saying he must stop doesn't work. You need to be willing to punch it out, to stop it.
1
Regardless of what we do now or into the future with or without the help of China or anyone else NK will still move forward to develop an ICBM.
It will have the ability to reach the US. That is what NK wants to do-bring
the possibility of war to our door step. There will come a time-an not in the Trump administration when we will have to make a choice-to live under the NK threat on a day to day basis or bit the bullet and eliminate it. NK right now is the bully on the block in its sphere of influence. But the bully will be here in the next 10 years if not somewhat sooner. If you have ever been to NK you would realize that the people truly believe that they are constantly on the verge of war with the West. That we are evil and want to crush NK. True logic does not exist in that country only blind obiedence to the "Leader". It my opinion that we will be a war with NK. It is only the timing of the event that is in question.
It will have the ability to reach the US. That is what NK wants to do-bring
the possibility of war to our door step. There will come a time-an not in the Trump administration when we will have to make a choice-to live under the NK threat on a day to day basis or bit the bullet and eliminate it. NK right now is the bully on the block in its sphere of influence. But the bully will be here in the next 10 years if not somewhat sooner. If you have ever been to NK you would realize that the people truly believe that they are constantly on the verge of war with the West. That we are evil and want to crush NK. True logic does not exist in that country only blind obiedence to the "Leader". It my opinion that we will be a war with NK. It is only the timing of the event that is in question.
One question you rarely see answered. Why hasn't there been a peace treaty ending the Korean War? What is it that the North Koreans are demanding that the US refuses to deal with? Reparations?
1
And Presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton (with the help of President Carter) did absolutely nothing effective for over twenty years except to wring their hands and rely on this Orwellian policy of "strategic patience".
The terror for all of us is that #45 has proven twice in the past days that his threats are not necessarily empty. He does not appear to understand the seriousness of his bullying tweets and statements. The greatest fear ever since he threw his hat in the ring is that he could send us into war without giving it any more thought than he appears to give anything else. His "my military" crack a couple of days ago suggests that that is his attitude. This president is terrifyingly dangerous.
1
There's a problem here. The US can't strike North Korea without fear of nuclear retaliation against South Korea. The US can't shut off trade to North Korea without help from China. China can't shut off trade to North Korea without fear of nuclear retaliation against China. The US can't accept an intercontinental nuclear missile in the hands of North Korea. North Korea can't stop the development of an intercontinental nuclear missile because the nuclear program is propping up Kim's regime.
I think that took 30 seconds. Probably less.
“After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it’s not so easy”
-President Trump
I think that took 30 seconds. Probably less.
“After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it’s not so easy”
-President Trump
What ever happened to Congressional approval for acts of war? Is this Republican Congress just Trumps enabler totally void of any ethical responsibility to it's constitutional obligation? These people put their hands on a bible and took an oath now they sit on their hands and choke. If they allow Trump to fire off missiles like he fires off tweets, America is not great, it is just a naive ignorant child waving a gun in the face of the world.
2
What's missing in 45's dealings with North Korea is the same thing that's missing from every area of governance that he's played around in these first few month of his administration=a strategy of any kind long or short term. Each morning brings a new unsureness for me. The train is running away downhill--no auto-pilot, no engineer, no crew.
1
Two problems. Number one, Trump is incapable if keeping his mouth shut. So he'll keep twittering at NK and they're nuts. Two, Trump's lazy. He's already demonstrated with the MOAB that he's going to let the military do whatever they want with no oversight. I read yesterday that Chinese and Japanese ships are already tailing our "armada." This is not going to end well.
1
"What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy," Indeed.
"...Over the past three years, a covert war over the missile program has broken out between North Korea and the United States. As the North’s skills grew, President Barack Obama ordered a surge in strikes against the missile launches, The New York Times reported last month, including through electronic-warfare techniques. It is unclear how successful the program has been, because it is almost impossible to tell whether any individual launch failed because of sabotage, faulty engineering or bad luck. But the North’s launch-failure rate has been extraordinarily high since Mr. Obama first accelerated the program." -NYT "North Korean Missile Launch Fails, and a Show of Strength Fizzles"
Trump has no strategy; nor long-term vision for this nation. And his Generals of War are simply that; not skilled in politics nor economics. Those gentlemen are fully aware Trump threw them under the bus vis a vis the Yemen Raid.
He promised his voters "America First" yet has less than nothing to show for it; even his SCOTUS nominee is a fraud, and sits in his life-time seat due to GOP changing the rules.
Republicans can all go hang. American people will not go quietly. This is your daily reminder that there is an active FBI investigation into Trump/Russia and the wheels of Justice may grind slowly; but they grind exceedingly fine.
"...Over the past three years, a covert war over the missile program has broken out between North Korea and the United States. As the North’s skills grew, President Barack Obama ordered a surge in strikes against the missile launches, The New York Times reported last month, including through electronic-warfare techniques. It is unclear how successful the program has been, because it is almost impossible to tell whether any individual launch failed because of sabotage, faulty engineering or bad luck. But the North’s launch-failure rate has been extraordinarily high since Mr. Obama first accelerated the program." -NYT "North Korean Missile Launch Fails, and a Show of Strength Fizzles"
Trump has no strategy; nor long-term vision for this nation. And his Generals of War are simply that; not skilled in politics nor economics. Those gentlemen are fully aware Trump threw them under the bus vis a vis the Yemen Raid.
He promised his voters "America First" yet has less than nothing to show for it; even his SCOTUS nominee is a fraud, and sits in his life-time seat due to GOP changing the rules.
Republicans can all go hang. American people will not go quietly. This is your daily reminder that there is an active FBI investigation into Trump/Russia and the wheels of Justice may grind slowly; but they grind exceedingly fine.
The reason that things aren't going according to plan is that there is no plan.
Drumph and his 'team' of feckless billionaires couldn't organize their way out of a paper bag, they do not have the mental acuity to plan a war with any nation on Earth but it truly worries me that our so-called president seems to think of nukes as just another weapon in our arsenal.
Drumph and his 'team' of feckless billionaires couldn't organize their way out of a paper bag, they do not have the mental acuity to plan a war with any nation on Earth but it truly worries me that our so-called president seems to think of nukes as just another weapon in our arsenal.
1
No one should be surprised at the sheer recklessness that this fake President engages in on a daily basis.
The Republicans could do something about this powder keg Prez but of course they won't, and I sure hope voters let them know how we feel in 2018 - if we can survive until then.
The Republicans could do something about this powder keg Prez but of course they won't, and I sure hope voters let them know how we feel in 2018 - if we can survive until then.
2
What's missing is Congress, a Congress that has the country's welfare above its own.
3
North Korea's leader Kim Jong-in has more executive government and political experience leading a nation state than everyone in the Trump White House and Cabinet combined. Kim rationally, reasonably and smartly intends to stay in power by any means necessary including nukes and terrorism against civilians and nation states.
Having inherited his totalitarian cult of personality position from his father and grandfather, Kim is not going to relinquish it in the face of threats from an ignorant, immature, intemperate, incompetent and inexperienced 70 year old man who inherited a tiny closely held local family real estate empire. Plus Donald Trump's obvious basic deficiencies are further exacerbated by his stupidity aka knowing things that are simply not true.
While America spends as much on it's military as the next eight nations combined including 9x Russia and 3x China, America is not Sparta. Since 9/11/01 only 0.75% of Americans have volunteered to wear the military uniform of any American armed force. Neither our Secretary of Defense James Mattis nor our Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, has ever won a war or sustained a peace on par with a U.S. Grant or D.D. Eisenhower.
North Korea is Sparta. The Korean War ended in a stalemate after a million Chinese "volunteers" rushed to the front under Mao Zedong. America has lost wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq against enemies with far less military power. Trump's stupid bombast is not a strategy.
Having inherited his totalitarian cult of personality position from his father and grandfather, Kim is not going to relinquish it in the face of threats from an ignorant, immature, intemperate, incompetent and inexperienced 70 year old man who inherited a tiny closely held local family real estate empire. Plus Donald Trump's obvious basic deficiencies are further exacerbated by his stupidity aka knowing things that are simply not true.
While America spends as much on it's military as the next eight nations combined including 9x Russia and 3x China, America is not Sparta. Since 9/11/01 only 0.75% of Americans have volunteered to wear the military uniform of any American armed force. Neither our Secretary of Defense James Mattis nor our Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, has ever won a war or sustained a peace on par with a U.S. Grant or D.D. Eisenhower.
North Korea is Sparta. The Korean War ended in a stalemate after a million Chinese "volunteers" rushed to the front under Mao Zedong. America has lost wars in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq against enemies with far less military power. Trump's stupid bombast is not a strategy.
2
What we need is a chief executive that is not mentally ill. This could be our worst nightmare come true. The world is at serious risk.
1
"Mr. Trump needs to be firm, not reckless." Since that is impossible, and since the Republican controlled government refuses to bring article of impeachment for the long list of impeachable offenses a minimal amount of investigating could uncover, our only hope to avoid disaster (in one form or other) is a handful of generals and some semi sane feuding aides. Not quite 100 hundred days and the damage is massive requiring years to undo. This is, after al, as the grinning, evil Confederste elf Jeff Sessions said, "the Trump Era".
1
Since Kim Jong un and Donald Trump seem to be cut from the same cloth of feeling inferior, needing to boast to the world of their strength and bombastic threats, I suggest that the two of them duke it out in a public arena. Perhaps something akin to Mohammed Ali's and George Foreman's "Rumble in the Jungle" in Zaire, like a cage fight in Las Vegas or some other high profile venue? I would have them wearing only sumo-like diapers for the world to appreciate their respective torsos and brute strength.
But what would the winner earn? We could have the Wizard of Oz clip on a badge proclaiming the champion as the World's Most Powerful man and then send them off to a remote island on a honeymoon where they could continue to argue about the fake referees.
But what would the winner earn? We could have the Wizard of Oz clip on a badge proclaiming the champion as the World's Most Powerful man and then send them off to a remote island on a honeymoon where they could continue to argue about the fake referees.
"What's missing in the White House is a coherent strategy..."
DJT, the mythical master deal-maker, is not capable of formulating a coherent strategy regarding North Korea. That dangerous fact is further complicated by the sycophants and amateurs he has surrounded himself with. Even if the current N. Korea situation, with the help of U.S. allies, can
be calmed down, avoiding disaster, another crisis is inevitable.
These are dangerous times, made much more dangerous by the clown who occupies the White House under the Republican brand.
DJT, the mythical master deal-maker, is not capable of formulating a coherent strategy regarding North Korea. That dangerous fact is further complicated by the sycophants and amateurs he has surrounded himself with. Even if the current N. Korea situation, with the help of U.S. allies, can
be calmed down, avoiding disaster, another crisis is inevitable.
These are dangerous times, made much more dangerous by the clown who occupies the White House under the Republican brand.
The fact that a manchild has his finger on the nuclear button in both North Korea and the US represents one of the scariest consequences of last November's election. In the 19th century, when America lacked the capacity to threaten anyone other than our immediate neighbors, the people of Europe and Asia could ignore the outcome of our elections. When WWII converted us into an authentic superpower, however, the stability, indeed, the very existence, of the world depended in part on the maturity and rationality of the individual Americans selected to command our massive, nuclear-armed war machine.
Through the creation of NATO, US officials sought to reduce the likelihood of unilateral action by harnessing American power to the restraints imposed by a multinational alliance. That connection, coupled with the responsible behavior of an electorate which elevated to the Oval Office presidents who understood the impracticality of using nuclear weapons, helped avoid a holocaust.
Now, however, we have chosen a chief executive who defines masculinity in terms suitable to a cartoon version of the Old West. Trump and Kim Jong-un may envision themselves as the protagonists in a Hollywood adaptation of the Gunfight at the OK Corral, but they more closely resemble two toddlers armed with weapons capable of incinerating their nursery.
We know conditions have deteriorated when the role of adult conciliator at the international childcare center has passed from the US to China.
Through the creation of NATO, US officials sought to reduce the likelihood of unilateral action by harnessing American power to the restraints imposed by a multinational alliance. That connection, coupled with the responsible behavior of an electorate which elevated to the Oval Office presidents who understood the impracticality of using nuclear weapons, helped avoid a holocaust.
Now, however, we have chosen a chief executive who defines masculinity in terms suitable to a cartoon version of the Old West. Trump and Kim Jong-un may envision themselves as the protagonists in a Hollywood adaptation of the Gunfight at the OK Corral, but they more closely resemble two toddlers armed with weapons capable of incinerating their nursery.
We know conditions have deteriorated when the role of adult conciliator at the international childcare center has passed from the US to China.
2
OK, seriously? Bombast adds to NK's paranoia? Don't you think it's a little late for that kind of timid response? It's well past that point. Their paranoia is as crazy as well Trump's lies. You can't make NK act better by playing nice. Doesn't work with Islamic jihadists, won't work with NK. I don't know what the answer is, but we're obviously well beyond the point of talking nice. Trump may be on to something. You simply can not let these madmen get nuclear capable missiles. I don't know what's scarier, Trump's impulsiveness or NK's recklessness, but I guess we might find out.
"What's missing in the White House is a coherent strategy ..."
Alas, what's missing in the White House is an ability to formulate one.
Alas, what's missing in the White House is an ability to formulate one.
1
This Editorial Board lives in a very cozy, comfortable, dreamland, where bunnies hop in the grass, birds sing, it only rains at night, and sanctions work.
NEW FLASH: Sanctions don't work in North Korea. The Kim family has a very long, and very well documented history, of literally starving its population to death rather than redirected resources from the military to the civilian sector.
And, they have plenty of resources for their military.
Sorry chums. It's time to put an end to the Kim family and their ruinous rule.
Those despots have already shown that they will proliferate nuclear weapons technology to troubled places. Do we not remember, where Pakistan went, to get their nuclear weapons knowledge ?
The Chines have had a good run, playing old Cold War games, and playing the North Koreans off against the rest of the world.
Time to stop that nonsense. Everyone knows that there is no interest in crossing the Yalu river, and everyone knows that there is no plan to install a government that is hostile to China. Those protests are for children, not adults.
The risk that a nuclear North Korean poses to stability in the circum-Pacific is too great; it's time for them to be toppled.
This is China's mess. They allowed it to happen. If they won't end it, we should.
I have several concerns but at the top of the list is the erratic personality of trump and pence permeating the process of getting NK to stand down. If weapons start flying trump will still play golf and pence will still pronounce his strong Catholic faith while anyone south and east of Korea will have to be concern about the fall out, literally and figuratively let alone the Americans in harms way. Today, in April 2017, we have a real estate agent inciting the potential for a nuclear war. Is this what you want?
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I am confident that trump will do something really thoughtless, and stupid, and WE will all pay the price for it. NO WAR! Impeach trump.
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The good thing is that Trump "leads" and leaves his team--especially, now, Pence, in South Korea--to do the actual work. Even having a lazy narcissist as president has the advantage of having someone with slightly more experience deal with the day-to-day.
Finally someone is mentioning that we might have used a cyber-strike to mess with the North Korean missile launch...duh?
We have had this card, all those laser empowered satellites floating above the Korean peninsula, for a while and may have even fine tuned it up during their other failures (or they may have just been failures) but the auspicious timing of this launch failure makes me wonder if we have now put this card openly on the table. Obama was a smart man; calm, trustworthy, hardworking, usually modest. Trump not so much.
Obama hinted at cards that we could play, unnamed weapons and options. Now we have a president who is at the poker table, like a drunk uncle, and some of the other players are enabling his bluffing, others daring him to go all in and most importantly to Trump? He is at the center attention every day of his life now. It's too bad we ordinary citizens can't just get in our cars go home and leave this failed family reunion behind. Seems we gave Drunk Uncle all our chips and we have to sit through his every hand... And listen to his ridiculous and uniformed prattle as he plays on and on into the night...
We have had this card, all those laser empowered satellites floating above the Korean peninsula, for a while and may have even fine tuned it up during their other failures (or they may have just been failures) but the auspicious timing of this launch failure makes me wonder if we have now put this card openly on the table. Obama was a smart man; calm, trustworthy, hardworking, usually modest. Trump not so much.
Obama hinted at cards that we could play, unnamed weapons and options. Now we have a president who is at the poker table, like a drunk uncle, and some of the other players are enabling his bluffing, others daring him to go all in and most importantly to Trump? He is at the center attention every day of his life now. It's too bad we ordinary citizens can't just get in our cars go home and leave this failed family reunion behind. Seems we gave Drunk Uncle all our chips and we have to sit through his every hand... And listen to his ridiculous and uniformed prattle as he plays on and on into the night...
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Meanwhile a notable standout is US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson with by his standards a loquacious:
“The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment.” Which to be honest is a great relief compared to everyone else in the administration like VP Pence travelling to South Korea to tell us all that the era of strategic patience with North Korea is over. Or head of national security General "H. R." McMaster that the situation is "coming to a head"
“The United States has spoken enough about North Korea. We have no further comment.” Which to be honest is a great relief compared to everyone else in the administration like VP Pence travelling to South Korea to tell us all that the era of strategic patience with North Korea is over. Or head of national security General "H. R." McMaster that the situation is "coming to a head"
What is needed is a President with intellectual abilities to solve problems in the best interests of " we the people". What is needed is a President with moral intergity,compassion,insight, wisdom and willginess to listen to and understand sound advice.
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I can't remember, was it the chocolate cake or the sorbet they served when I wiped out humanity?
Trump needs to just stop with this macho show of force and twitter ante-upping. It is completely irresponsible.
I worry he thinks he's in LasVegas, acting out a wager with bigger guns.
I worry he thinks he's in LasVegas, acting out a wager with bigger guns.
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It'll take a lot from President Trump to rebuild American credibility after the incompetent Obama and his Red Lines. The former Obama admistration officials who have criticized Obama for emboldening our enemies are 110% correct. It's going to be very difficult to undo Obama's coddling and surrendering to our enemies, fortunately President Trump is up to the job!
I firmly believe that if you happened to catch President Trump alone and gave him a blank map of the world he could even locate North Korea, much less distinguish North Korea from South Korea.
Our President's answer to all policy questions both domestic and foreign appears to be Twitter. At least our country's first nuclear war will have great social media coverage and TMZ can replace Fox News as the go to network for the GOP.
Our President's answer to all policy questions both domestic and foreign appears to be Twitter. At least our country's first nuclear war will have great social media coverage and TMZ can replace Fox News as the go to network for the GOP.
"Mr. Trump needs to be firm, not reckless in his talk, ratchet up sanctions and find a way to engage the North in negotiations."
*************
Probably will never happen. Trump doesn't do negotiation - his way or the highway. Furthermore, acting reckless is his trade secret, as he told an audience once that he likes to keep people guessing about what he intends to do next.
Where is the Doomsday clock set now?
*************
Probably will never happen. Trump doesn't do negotiation - his way or the highway. Furthermore, acting reckless is his trade secret, as he told an audience once that he likes to keep people guessing about what he intends to do next.
Where is the Doomsday clock set now?
Those of us who did not vote for him saw this coming. Why the big surprise?
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"What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy"? Really? What's missing in The White House is a president worthy of that great office. Our so-called president is illegitimate. He routinely lies, behaves childishly and presents a danger to us and the rest of the world. He craves attention and no one will be surprised if he provokes other nations into a catastrophic military confrontation. He is desparate to seem "presidential" and desparate to deflect attention away from the Russian influence on our elections and his likely collusion with it. Once he precipitates an international crisis there will be no going back. We are all being drawn into a trap by a cold, calculating liar. Will we stop him before it is too late? Or will we all just stupidly blunder into World War III with the fool who really lost the last election by more than THREE MILLION VOTES?
"What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy," you say. I'm not sure Faux-President Frump feels the need for such. Looking for that in the may is like looking for delicacy and care on the part of the famous Bull in the China Shop. FPF figures he has never before needed such a thing so why burden his little mind 2ith it now? Screaming and bullying his way though has got him where he is today, and his supporters seem to think that shows strength and courage. Risky, you suggest. I think we are already so far beyond risky it makes my head swim. The only adjective phrase I can come up with to do justice to the matter can't be printed here. It begins with scared.
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All this hand wringing over what Trump and anybody else might do is becoming more pathetic by the week. That the people of the world have allowed their
fates to be tied to such idiotic windbags is beyond absurd. I can't think of a word to describe such a ridiculous condition.
fates to be tied to such idiotic windbags is beyond absurd. I can't think of a word to describe such a ridiculous condition.
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I think trump is using NK to deflect the issues of Russia, their impact on the 2016 election & trumps administration's partnership with Russia.
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I seem to recall that President Obama, in an effort to eliminate Iran's nuclear capability to harm its neighbors--as well as others--managed to persuade two enemies--Russia and China--and allies--France, Germany and Great Britain--to sign an agreement to force Iran to the negotiating table with threats to harm its financial stability for generations. That Iran, badly in need of cash and freedom from the economic strait-jacket imposed by the United States, finally consented speaks to the common sense approach of carrot-and-stick while leaving the isolated country with some dignity. This all appears to have been lost on Donald Trump--as both candidate and as president.
Anyone can see now that Kim Jong-un is dictating the terms of engagement, if you will, with the overmatched Trump. The Korean supreme leader seems to take a great deal of pleasure in goading the American president who has responded, on cue, with a childish, unproductive belligerence that is in such utter contrast to the diplomatic and negotiating skills of his predecessor that one rightly fears that a nuclear holocaust may indeed happen on this president's watch.
This disastrous president has assembled a diplomatic and military apparatus that is inexperienced (SecState Rex Tillerson, U. N. Ambassador Nikki Haley) or hawkish. The American president runs to China and asks them to pull his chestnuts from a roasting fire of his creation.
And where's your buddy, Vladimir Putin, in all this mess, Mr. "President"?
Anyone can see now that Kim Jong-un is dictating the terms of engagement, if you will, with the overmatched Trump. The Korean supreme leader seems to take a great deal of pleasure in goading the American president who has responded, on cue, with a childish, unproductive belligerence that is in such utter contrast to the diplomatic and negotiating skills of his predecessor that one rightly fears that a nuclear holocaust may indeed happen on this president's watch.
This disastrous president has assembled a diplomatic and military apparatus that is inexperienced (SecState Rex Tillerson, U. N. Ambassador Nikki Haley) or hawkish. The American president runs to China and asks them to pull his chestnuts from a roasting fire of his creation.
And where's your buddy, Vladimir Putin, in all this mess, Mr. "President"?
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"Walk softly but carry a big stick" has been replaced with " Mine is bigger than yours" as we drift towards the precipice of the "all or nothing" that is thermonuclear war which will ultimately include China :(
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There is an old and memorable photo of Mr. Kim sitting in front of a computer, the Military impeccably attired standing behind him, looking anxious and ready to cry, for North Korea has no internet service of a sudden, and the Leader wants answers. Perhaps it was a brilliant American technician in the Bronx who saved the day.
Two loose cannons on board now are heading towards a missile crisis, if President Xi Jinping of China can have a quiet word to the wise with Mr. Kim, this might be all to the good.
Two loose cannons on board now are heading towards a missile crisis, if President Xi Jinping of China can have a quiet word to the wise with Mr. Kim, this might be all to the good.
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"Loose talk" What is that? A euphemism for what one pundit terms verbal incontinence? We have elected a loose canon President of the United States; loose talk must be expected regarding all issues not just Korea.
I am struck by efforts of knowledgeable observers to represent of some act or words of his as an indication that he is "growing" in the office becoming more "presidential". The man has been irresponsibly selfish for 70 hears; he is not going to change.
Any effort to interpret or to understand his words or acts must be in light of his own selfish perspective.
I am struck by efforts of knowledgeable observers to represent of some act or words of his as an indication that he is "growing" in the office becoming more "presidential". The man has been irresponsibly selfish for 70 hears; he is not going to change.
Any effort to interpret or to understand his words or acts must be in light of his own selfish perspective.
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What's missing is a "coherent strategy" on the part of CHINA!
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RUSSIAGATE! That is Benedict Donald's motivation for the latest military theatrics. We need to PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
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Mr. Trump's problem is simple. He wants the DPRK to kowtow [note the Chinese etymology, here] to his demands along with China, because he cares less about any nuclear threat and more about what he sees as a threat to his authority. It's All Hail Trump all the time. Diplomacy, steadfastness, modesty and caution are not in his wheelhouse. Facing off against Mr. Kim, a clearly dangerous autocrat, he invites a DPRK reprisal. We should take no comfort in a failed missile test. North Korea could easily place a working bomb in the hold of a ship, make a few stops in Asian ports as cover and then head straight for Oahu with a Pearl Harbor II attack with nuclear vaporization as Trump's reward for his bombast. Loose tweets sink fleets.
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It would be nice if the President read this. I am sure he is mainlining his ego at FOX. We are in very deep trouble.
Structural conditions of the crisis situation: A. the US possesses “escalation dominance” over NK. It’s not so on the conventional weapons ladder. B. NK’s rulers live everyday with the sword of agonizing death hanging over their heads. That means their primary motive is to keep on hanging to power and not NK’s interests or even its survival. C. NK greatest asset is its assumed operational capability to nuke Seoul. D. China has a central interest in keeping NK from achieving operative regional nuclear capability and a vital interest in preventing the US from achieving legitimacy for nuclear use in the Korean peninsula. That means Beijing will most probably go a long way coercing Pyongyang toward the most minimal of nuclear deterrence, at the same time, it will severely view American strategic reaction to the NK as a stratagem to establish American dominance.
Once it’s understood that “saving face” is taken quite literally by the NK regime, it’s imperative to discard all “surrender to blackmail” howling and look for a solution which will enable Kim Jong-on to declare victory and step back from the nuclear brink. Thus the prudent and moral course should be a public offering of carrots to Pyongyang (diplomatic opening, aid, civil reactors -- on the lines of the aborted 1995 agreement, supported by international guarantees), while in close channels waving the highly accurate Tomahawks to concentrate the dictator mind on America’s “cutting the serpent head” doctrine.
Once it’s understood that “saving face” is taken quite literally by the NK regime, it’s imperative to discard all “surrender to blackmail” howling and look for a solution which will enable Kim Jong-on to declare victory and step back from the nuclear brink. Thus the prudent and moral course should be a public offering of carrots to Pyongyang (diplomatic opening, aid, civil reactors -- on the lines of the aborted 1995 agreement, supported by international guarantees), while in close channels waving the highly accurate Tomahawks to concentrate the dictator mind on America’s “cutting the serpent head” doctrine.
Seoul and its 10 million people are not far from the DMZ. It seems that everyone is worried about a long range ICBM that can reach the US. But shouldn't someone worry about the South Korean population. Or does that not matter because they're not white?
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What's missing in the White House is a coherent strategy..."
Well, duh.
Coherence from a president who has difficulty forming a 3-word subject-verb-object sentence? Coherence isn't missing, it was dead on arrival. It's resurrection is not to be.
The most appealing solution to the Trump-Kim quandary would be to put the two of them in a small steel box with only water and air provided and weld the opening shut. Wait 30 days and see which one is still moving. Then turn off both water and oxygen.
Well, duh.
Coherence from a president who has difficulty forming a 3-word subject-verb-object sentence? Coherence isn't missing, it was dead on arrival. It's resurrection is not to be.
The most appealing solution to the Trump-Kim quandary would be to put the two of them in a small steel box with only water and air provided and weld the opening shut. Wait 30 days and see which one is still moving. Then turn off both water and oxygen.
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Donald,
You say you got a real solution? We'd all love to see the plan.
You say you got a real solution? We'd all love to see the plan.
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Trump the flip-flopper tax cheat plans to go it alone because his ratings has gone down to 19%. Voter fraud Mike Pence warns, NATO, Iran, NK but he together with the rest of American sheeple do not have the wherewithal to warn Russia or China: Stolen country of cowboys and crooks want to destroy europe
Vanga reportedly said Europe will 'cease to exist' by the end of next year, leaving the continent 'almost empty' and a 'wasteland almost entirely devoid of any form of life'.
The chilling prophecy has alerted conspiracy theorists who highlight ISIS activity close to Europe in Libya.
Vanga reportedly said Europe will 'cease to exist' by the end of next year, leaving the continent 'almost empty' and a 'wasteland almost entirely devoid of any form of life'.
The chilling prophecy has alerted conspiracy theorists who highlight ISIS activity close to Europe in Libya.
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The smaller the Country the more aggressive the US becomes. Ever seen the US take on anyone its own size? The Bombing Bully of this World. Low and shameful. Ever since WWII, nonstop. The home of the brave, NOT.
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China is managing NK. If China wanted to do anything it is not doing towards NK they would do it. China created NK by fending off the US and the South in the Korean War. If we want to do anthing else regarding NK our options are not promising. But who wants to wait until NK has a significant amount of ICBMs? Then they will be less bombastic; less a threat? Since NK has been saber-rattling for DECADES how are they not looking for trouble. US and SK even allowed them to get away with sinking a SK ship!! One of NK's stated goals is to be on of the Big Boys. Bombastic NK vs bombastic Donnie; not a particularly appealing situation, eh? But think about actors like these 20 years from now!!
And don't forget, China is not only a rhetorically chummy neighbor of N. Korea that trades with her a lot. China has a 1961-1922 mutual defense treaty with N. Korea.
Within the Chinese border of North Korea live very dense Chinese population, up to 100 millions，as well as major industries . How can U.S. finger pointing at China, or put entire burden of solving crisis with its crazy Neighbor on the Chinese, when the U.S. and its proxy Japan are the causes of its defensive aggression ? About 2 years ago Obama successfully persuaded Japan to finally formally apologize and compensate for enslaving many South Korean women to serve in their military as "Comfort Women" during 1920s-40s. If U.S. really wants to peacefully solve the N. Korean problem once for all, go back to dissolve the root of N. Korea's hatred--Japan's war crime. Maybe Trump could prod his golf buddy Japanese prime minister Abe to at least apologize and compensate non-monetarily to North Korea and China for the atrocity they did to them last century? Japan has been hiding behind U.S. its Big Brother too long。
I would like to know what President Trump would have to do in order to "do ONE thing right" in his tenure, in accordance with the opinions of the writers of the New York Times. Everyday there are at least half a dozen articles that blast our current President. The problem is ... that they're doing it at all angles, against every position he takes, every move, every strike, every word uttered. Surely, there has to be at least ONE thing he isn't completely incompetent about.
I bring this up because in the past week we've seen some strength in our President and our armed forces as they laid siege to the Syrians and thus indirectly to the Russians -- who are, of course, Mr. Trump's best friend. And then came a successful attack on an ISIS-inhabited zone in Afghanistan. Now ... well, it's North Korea.
Do we want war? Absolutely not, who would? But just as this article states that President Obama had warned that North Korea was an urgent threat, as soon as President Trump begins to act on their despicable behavior/nation, we get yet another article in a long list of ones that take aim at his apparent inability to handle the situation "clear enough."
Maybe the Times is right. Perhaps his rough & tough talk isn't what a conventional President would do, and maybe his strategy isn't clear to us, the public. Maybe though, POTUS and the JCS have things under control more than they're letting on. Afterall, why would ANY Military make their true intentions known?
Either way, God Bless
I bring this up because in the past week we've seen some strength in our President and our armed forces as they laid siege to the Syrians and thus indirectly to the Russians -- who are, of course, Mr. Trump's best friend. And then came a successful attack on an ISIS-inhabited zone in Afghanistan. Now ... well, it's North Korea.
Do we want war? Absolutely not, who would? But just as this article states that President Obama had warned that North Korea was an urgent threat, as soon as President Trump begins to act on their despicable behavior/nation, we get yet another article in a long list of ones that take aim at his apparent inability to handle the situation "clear enough."
Maybe the Times is right. Perhaps his rough & tough talk isn't what a conventional President would do, and maybe his strategy isn't clear to us, the public. Maybe though, POTUS and the JCS have things under control more than they're letting on. Afterall, why would ANY Military make their true intentions known?
Either way, God Bless
president Trump:
Since you don't trust anyone outside your immediate family, (including VP Mike Pence) go ahead and turn over day-to-day governance to Jared Kushner. You sort have anyway.
Just stay quiet and out of the way or you'll cause a war.
Since you don't trust anyone outside your immediate family, (including VP Mike Pence) go ahead and turn over day-to-day governance to Jared Kushner. You sort have anyway.
Just stay quiet and out of the way or you'll cause a war.
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Oh quit worrying everyone. Jared will use his considerable foreign policy skills to de-fuse the crisis!
Trump should do no more than South Korea would do, since Kim's neighbor to the south is the main target of his arsenal.
Unfortunately, Trump inspired military action by North Korea against the South is exactly the kind of 'win' which will help implode Trumpism for good.
Two trustless leaders playing in a sandbox filled with grenades. China is the only country that can save this issue.
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As one with no use for the buffoon Trump, it is still appalling to read the Times officially and snidely equating Trump and Jong-Un and giving as gospel truth the standard commie excuse for north korea's sixty decades of crazy, that it fears an attack by the U.S.
In reality an impoverished country of 25 million run by a feudal dictatorship and used as a toy by China is threatening the U.S. with nuclear attack after every day for six decade threatening South Koreans with attack--after actually attacking South Korea.
The chance that tens of millions May Day goes up by the day and would be doing so Trump or no. Obama did nothing to change this progression and his parting warning was no favor. The Times spreading propaganda does not help either.
Trump increases the risk but he did not create the risk.
There is a simple fact the Times is wilfully denying.
Rather than accept the risk of nuclear attack by North Korea, the United States should destroy North Korea's capacity to carry out such an attack. Those who don't face the reality are complicit in the outcome. Everyone in the world should have no doubt in this subject so the need never arises. The Times is doing all it can to create doubt and so create catastrophe.
In reality an impoverished country of 25 million run by a feudal dictatorship and used as a toy by China is threatening the U.S. with nuclear attack after every day for six decade threatening South Koreans with attack--after actually attacking South Korea.
The chance that tens of millions May Day goes up by the day and would be doing so Trump or no. Obama did nothing to change this progression and his parting warning was no favor. The Times spreading propaganda does not help either.
Trump increases the risk but he did not create the risk.
There is a simple fact the Times is wilfully denying.
Rather than accept the risk of nuclear attack by North Korea, the United States should destroy North Korea's capacity to carry out such an attack. Those who don't face the reality are complicit in the outcome. Everyone in the world should have no doubt in this subject so the need never arises. The Times is doing all it can to create doubt and so create catastrophe.
bombast and shouting matches usually ended in a fistfight, but not this time. China is the negotiator here, and it looks like it will not step up to the plate to calm its friend. South Korea has the most to loose, North Korea does not care, and any pre-emptive strike will have as much effect as bombing an airstrip in Syria...
What to do? bite our tongue!!!
What to do? bite our tongue!!!
Loose talk? HE sounds exactly like any typical " conservative " radio show huckster. All sound and fury, signifying NOTHING.
This is just great, a guy who for 5 years couldn't find the birth certificate of a sitting president known to be born in Honolulu to an American citizen mother, is now rattling the sabres against North Korea.
Loose talk from Trump? No, really? I'm against any military action this buffoon is contemplating. The US cannot do anything until we get a real president.
We need to see the taxes, need to launch a serious investigation into his collusion with Russia.
Loose talk from Trump? No, really? I'm against any military action this buffoon is contemplating. The US cannot do anything until we get a real president.
We need to see the taxes, need to launch a serious investigation into his collusion with Russia.
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The Democrats' loose talk is only serving to strengthen and embolden our enemies, which seems to be the Democratic speciality
Part 1 of 2
Part 3 of 3
In Syria President Trump had to show some might. If you listened to all sides of the reporting, you would have heard that he had the strategists lay out all the options to him. He studied them overnight, had a lot of questions. They met with him again and answered all of his questions at which time the options were narrowed down. He again studied them overnight and finally made the decision he did to bomb the base in Syria. Does that sound like an impulsive man? Does it sound like someone who doesn't listen to sound advice?
The world stage is "pushing the envelope" to see what they can get away with. They have done this a little at a time for many years. Now we open our eyes and say, "hey how did you get so close?" President Trump is saying "ENOUGH! You have pushed as far as you are going to go. You're not getting any closer and if you don't believe me just try it and see what happens!"
The bullies of this world will only stop their bullying when a bigger dog steps into the fight. It's time for them to realize, the United States is the bigger dog and President Trump isn't afraid to tell them.
Part 3 of 3
In Syria President Trump had to show some might. If you listened to all sides of the reporting, you would have heard that he had the strategists lay out all the options to him. He studied them overnight, had a lot of questions. They met with him again and answered all of his questions at which time the options were narrowed down. He again studied them overnight and finally made the decision he did to bomb the base in Syria. Does that sound like an impulsive man? Does it sound like someone who doesn't listen to sound advice?
The world stage is "pushing the envelope" to see what they can get away with. They have done this a little at a time for many years. Now we open our eyes and say, "hey how did you get so close?" President Trump is saying "ENOUGH! You have pushed as far as you are going to go. You're not getting any closer and if you don't believe me just try it and see what happens!"
The bullies of this world will only stop their bullying when a bigger dog steps into the fight. It's time for them to realize, the United States is the bigger dog and President Trump isn't afraid to tell them.
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President Trump is functioning very well considering North Korea is run by a madman. If the socialistic democrats do not like it, they are free to leave the U.S. Most people are tired of their whining.
Like Cuba missile crisis, resolution to NKorea nuke/missile threat is guarantee by US not to attack and N-S peace treaty backed by US and China. Pres Xi has leversge to make this happen.
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President Trump's brilliant policies have gotten China to pressure North Korea! President Trump's had more success in 100 days than Obama had in 8 years!!
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Donald Trump is the most powerful man on the planet. Can you get that in your head? Donald Trump is the most powerful man in the world. Now, before he gets us all killed, we have to work really, really hard to make that statement moot.
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I'm sure Jared will get this all sorted out ... as soon as he gets back from skiing.
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Moms used to say (paraphrased),
"How can U miss what was never there?"
Ref, "What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy,..."
"How can U miss what was never there?"
Ref, "What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy,..."
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This is a frightening time for the world. We have a loose tweeting, self-centered neophyte running the White House (Trump or his kin, Ivan-ared) playing double-dare with an irrational, self-centered murderous leader in North Korea - why anyone thinks that typical diplomatic language and signalling will suffice to calm these waters is beyond me. If I were in South Korea or Japan I'd be very, very nervous about the drama between these two wackos - neither one seems to have the morality of a slime mold nor truly cares for anyone other than themselves.
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He really needs to start a war to save his job, and possibly his freedom. The American people have never voted out, or impeached, or indicted, a sitting President during wartime. All treason and corruption investigations, instead of merely being slowed, would automatically cease due to "National Security". A rabid beast is always most dangerous when cornered.
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In a front page article you quoted the SCP saying , “After listening for 10 minutes, I realized it’s not so easy,” he said. “It’s not what you would think.”
Another realization that things are complex - so he goes to Mar-A-Lago to rest his brain.
Perhaps he might just reside there, it is so un-complex.
Another realization that things are complex - so he goes to Mar-A-Lago to rest his brain.
Perhaps he might just reside there, it is so un-complex.
Part 2 of 3
This President came into office with half of the nation against him. No he isn't polished. He didn't speak with eloquence, but he spoke from the heart. Oftentimes he appeared blustery. If you take the time to listen, you will hear that the magnitude, the weight of the responsibility he now carries as President, sole bearer of the safety and protection of each and every resident of this great country, has sobered him. He may not have had the experience to do this job, but who of us in our lifetime has not said, " they keep asking for experience but how can I get experience if they won't let me do the job? If they will just give me a chance, I will prove to them that I can do it.". Give our President a chance! He is, like it or not, Our President! And "a house divided, cannot stand."
He has surrounded himself with men well experienced in battle and he himself is well experienced in negotiating. Some people, unfortunately, are in negotiable. Therefore you are left with showing them your strength. What they are up against if they really want to pick this fight.
This President came into office with half of the nation against him. No he isn't polished. He didn't speak with eloquence, but he spoke from the heart. Oftentimes he appeared blustery. If you take the time to listen, you will hear that the magnitude, the weight of the responsibility he now carries as President, sole bearer of the safety and protection of each and every resident of this great country, has sobered him. He may not have had the experience to do this job, but who of us in our lifetime has not said, " they keep asking for experience but how can I get experience if they won't let me do the job? If they will just give me a chance, I will prove to them that I can do it.". Give our President a chance! He is, like it or not, Our President! And "a house divided, cannot stand."
He has surrounded himself with men well experienced in battle and he himself is well experienced in negotiating. Some people, unfortunately, are in negotiable. Therefore you are left with showing them your strength. What they are up against if they really want to pick this fight.
1
I continually wonder why the NY Times suddenly a couple weeks ago started muttering under its breath about The United States' "cybermeddling" with DPRK missile launches. No explanation about where this knowledge came from, or how it would work, or even if it is just a bluff planted in our compliant media.
If it were possible to destroy an enemy missile 5 seconds after launch, either by use of a stuxnet-like malware, or electronic countermeasures, (telemetry-jamming) would that not instantly make obsolete all the tens of thouseands of ICBMs and cruise missiles the nuclear powers of the world rely on for deterrence? Of course it would. That's why I am not believing for a minute this crude propaganda campaign that somehow, magically, we can prevent the DPRK from firing missiles at us.
If it were possible to destroy an enemy missile 5 seconds after launch, either by use of a stuxnet-like malware, or electronic countermeasures, (telemetry-jamming) would that not instantly make obsolete all the tens of thouseands of ICBMs and cruise missiles the nuclear powers of the world rely on for deterrence? Of course it would. That's why I am not believing for a minute this crude propaganda campaign that somehow, magically, we can prevent the DPRK from firing missiles at us.
Just as Mr Trump has found himself appearing macho in dropping a big bomb and only 59 tomahawks to impress us gave him has boosted his approval by 6 point, this is now his highway to really win big.
He has lots and lots of bombs and those cute missiles and nobody is going to complete the Putin-Trump collusion.
Bombs are such a great distraction!
Bomb! Baby! Bomb!
He has lots and lots of bombs and those cute missiles and nobody is going to complete the Putin-Trump collusion.
Bombs are such a great distraction!
Bomb! Baby! Bomb!
2
The world -- including out own former president Dubya -- let N Korea pursue it's nuclear ambitions. We knew a long time ago that N Korea received information on how to construct a nuclear weapons program from Pakistan. And no one acted. And if no one acts soon, you will have a real-life Dr. Evil with the ability to destroy a significant portion of the world on a whim. So, once they mount nuclear weapons on rockets, and once those rockets can fly, much of the world is in real danger. And that moment is getting closer and closer.
1
If war comes to the Korean peninsula, and causes all the resulting human death, misery and suffering, you can be sure the existing supporters for Trump will defend his actions will blame N. Korea for provoking the situation. Others will say tensions have been high for over 50 years, it was bound to come to a head. Before all that happens, Americans need to demand that the supposedly great negotiator come up with a better plan than just saying if China doesn't take care of it, we will.
61
Threats to preemptively strike North Korea might seem tempting, but the reality of such foolhardy action will be borne by the people of South Korea. While the era of “strategic patience” with North Korea might be over, it should not be replaced by an era of “tactical impatience.” Despite what Trump believes, the solution to North Korea is only via Beijing. He should remember Secretary Colin Powell’s Pottery Barn rule – if you break it, you own it – and you don’t want to own North Korea.
President Teddy Roosevelt’s foreign policy, “speak softly, and carry a big stick,” is what is the need of the hour. Unfortunately President Trump rarely speaks softly and always carries a far bigger stick than he can handle. It might behoove Trump to idle the Twitter handle and let his generals do the minimal talking that is required in this situation.
President Teddy Roosevelt’s foreign policy, “speak softly, and carry a big stick,” is what is the need of the hour. Unfortunately President Trump rarely speaks softly and always carries a far bigger stick than he can handle. It might behoove Trump to idle the Twitter handle and let his generals do the minimal talking that is required in this situation.
58
He finally found the right mix of diversion and delusion to steer the headlines away from collusion with Russia. How can anyone be surprised by this shallow show of faux-machismo? I would say it's 'Sad' but what's really sad is the inability of so many to have foreseen an unpredictable president who would only serve an agenda of self-adulation and self-preservation not the people who voted for him and his hollow promises or anyone else here or anywhere. What's sad is our future, our children's future, and our grandchildren's future for those will be forever altered incomprehensible (and unnecessary) ways.
124
Loose lips used to sink ships. Now they threaten to incinerate millions in a flash and to destroy multiple millions more in nuclear dust.
JFK was graced with the gift of rational thought. Now we have a President whose attention span equals the character limitation of his tweets. Never has cogent strategy emerged from anybody's Twitter account and it never will.
We must hope that the few adults in the Trump coterie of advisors steer him beyond the severe straitjacket of intemperate 140-character bursts of lethally mindless bile.
JFK was graced with the gift of rational thought. Now we have a President whose attention span equals the character limitation of his tweets. Never has cogent strategy emerged from anybody's Twitter account and it never will.
We must hope that the few adults in the Trump coterie of advisors steer him beyond the severe straitjacket of intemperate 140-character bursts of lethally mindless bile.
99
"Loose lips used to sink ships. Now they threaten to incinerate millions in a flash and to destroy multiple millions more in nuclear dust."
How exactly will that happen, given that North Korea does not possess the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon?
How exactly will that happen, given that North Korea does not possess the ability to deliver a nuclear weapon?
your country does, frankie
1
Your essay treats Mr. Trump as an adult who is capable of rational thought. Sadly, he has shown numerous times that he is just an overgrown rich brat, and one with his own missile and bomb toys, who seems determined not to let anyone else play in his sandbox. A more appropriate essay would have pointed out that he is a threat not only to his sandbox, but to the future of the entire world.
200
I will not forget his response to Chris Mathews on the use of nuclear weapons. Why have them if you are not going to use them. What is really astounding that the enough people voted for him after saying that to become president.
1
Trump's intemperate tweets must stop. They are not presidential. They are a measure of his emotions, impulsiveness, and unchecked nastiness. He is the so-called president now, and every word represents the US. The message cannot be "Look at me, world. No hands. No brains." Then when he incites a war, "Oops."
There are other unstable world leaders than Trump. There is a depth of history, for example, that he cannot learn in a ten-minute Korea for Dummies tutorial from the Chinese president. There are cultural differences involved where he may make an unforgivable insult that another nation may consider requires war.
Basic etiquette and protocol about dealing with foreign nations are practiced by all foreign service personnel when going abroad. They are deeply knowledgeable about the culture, politics, dynamics, history and personalities involved. Trump's candidacy was a storm of tweeted insults, fake news, conspiracy theories, and complete blithering nonsense.
He must stop. Trump's keepers must take away his phone or cut off cell service in his room or restrain him with drugs. He is as dangerous of a lunatic as the tyrant of North Korea and various third world leaders.
Complete the Russia investigation. Release his taxes to find out about his conflicts of interest. Impeach him for his crimes if they are proven. Make him undergo mental tests to determine if he is fit for office.
Stop the tweets, stop the madness. Or there will be war.
There are other unstable world leaders than Trump. There is a depth of history, for example, that he cannot learn in a ten-minute Korea for Dummies tutorial from the Chinese president. There are cultural differences involved where he may make an unforgivable insult that another nation may consider requires war.
Basic etiquette and protocol about dealing with foreign nations are practiced by all foreign service personnel when going abroad. They are deeply knowledgeable about the culture, politics, dynamics, history and personalities involved. Trump's candidacy was a storm of tweeted insults, fake news, conspiracy theories, and complete blithering nonsense.
He must stop. Trump's keepers must take away his phone or cut off cell service in his room or restrain him with drugs. He is as dangerous of a lunatic as the tyrant of North Korea and various third world leaders.
Complete the Russia investigation. Release his taxes to find out about his conflicts of interest. Impeach him for his crimes if they are proven. Make him undergo mental tests to determine if he is fit for office.
Stop the tweets, stop the madness. Or there will be war.
318
Well said.
Ten minutes and a piece of the "best chocolate cake" made this man think he knows all he needs to know about relations with North Korea. I'm surprised he stayed focused for that long.
Ten minutes and a piece of the "best chocolate cake" made this man think he knows all he needs to know about relations with North Korea. I'm surprised he stayed focused for that long.
1
"There are cultural differences involved where he may make an unforgivable insult that another nation may consider requires war."
Utter nonsense. Now that we are in an age of deterrence.
Utter nonsense. Now that we are in an age of deterrence.
I rarely agree with anything Trump says.
However, on North Korea he is very much on the mark.
For many years this Stalinist dictatorship has become more and more bellicose. It has put most of its resources into building weapons some of them for mass destruction. And it appears determined to use them.
Previous administrations have tried negotiations which just kicked the can down the road. With the acquisition of nuclear weapons, many of them much stronger than the ones used to bomb Japan, North Korea has shown that it intends to hold the entire world hostage to its criminal goals.
They must be stopped and Trump is the man who has the guts and determination to do it.
People will die but the entire world will thank us for stopping these maniacs.
We cannot allow North Korea to proceed further with their race to destroy the world.
However, on North Korea he is very much on the mark.
For many years this Stalinist dictatorship has become more and more bellicose. It has put most of its resources into building weapons some of them for mass destruction. And it appears determined to use them.
Previous administrations have tried negotiations which just kicked the can down the road. With the acquisition of nuclear weapons, many of them much stronger than the ones used to bomb Japan, North Korea has shown that it intends to hold the entire world hostage to its criminal goals.
They must be stopped and Trump is the man who has the guts and determination to do it.
People will die but the entire world will thank us for stopping these maniacs.
We cannot allow North Korea to proceed further with their race to destroy the world.
33
"And it appears determined to use them".
What proof do you have of North Korea's intentions to go on the offense against the world?
What proof do you have of North Korea's intentions to go on the offense against the world?
1
The Japanese need to stop this quickly and develop and threaten the North with force if necessary. China is powerless and so is the empty suit in the White House.
I agree that Trump is on the mark with his approach, but this will not go as far as you suggest, i think no-one will die. Trump will apply the pressure until China intervenes to force a resolution, which China will do. With the right solution, Trump will allow Kim to save some face, and US/China relations will improve. Trump is setting this up brilliantly, including the cultivation of his own image as an impulsive and unstable leader. This combined with the recent displays of American firepower and willingness to act in Syria and Afghanistan is exactly what the situation requires to force a peaceful solution. Nothing less than a bold approach will work, and that is what he is providing. Obama could not have solved this without greater risk. Trump is better in a confrontation.
This isn't going to end well. Neither Trump nor Kim Jong-un is working with a full deck. The game of bluster and playground bravado gets real serious when crazy people with big guns are involved.
North Korea has something like 20 to 30 thousand pieces of heavy artillery trained on the South. A barrage would kill over half a million in the first 30 minutes. How long would it take to take out 30 thousand big guns with air power? One month? Two months? Such a barrage would have to be met with atomic weapons. Otherwise, many millions would die. Point being, a war would go nuclear even if started with conventional weapons.
Consequently, the North has caused itself to become a big target with its aggressive stance. Trump likes to throw things at targets. He is a lifelong bully and is not used to targets that can throw things back. Big things that hurt people.
Bullying isn't deal making. That's what Trump does. He bullies weaker foes. Trump can't bully North Korea. They are itching for a fight. Neither Trump nor Kim are stable. We are going to need more than luck to keep this from spinning out of control. Maybe we could send Sean Spicer as our chief negotiator? He knows a lot about war. See what I mean?
North Korea has something like 20 to 30 thousand pieces of heavy artillery trained on the South. A barrage would kill over half a million in the first 30 minutes. How long would it take to take out 30 thousand big guns with air power? One month? Two months? Such a barrage would have to be met with atomic weapons. Otherwise, many millions would die. Point being, a war would go nuclear even if started with conventional weapons.
Consequently, the North has caused itself to become a big target with its aggressive stance. Trump likes to throw things at targets. He is a lifelong bully and is not used to targets that can throw things back. Big things that hurt people.
Bullying isn't deal making. That's what Trump does. He bullies weaker foes. Trump can't bully North Korea. They are itching for a fight. Neither Trump nor Kim are stable. We are going to need more than luck to keep this from spinning out of control. Maybe we could send Sean Spicer as our chief negotiator? He knows a lot about war. See what I mean?
190
Extraordinary, but this seems to be the only comment that raises the point (also ignored by the editorial) of the consequences to Seoul and to South Korea of a preemptive US strike against the north. My simple advice would be: take a look at the map, take a look at the demographics of S. Korea before we go nattering on about preemptive strikes, and then formulate a policy.
1
"North Korea has something like 20 to 30 thousand pieces of heavy artillery trained on the South. A barrage would kill over half a million in the first 30 minutes."
In what scenario do you envisage North Korea attacking South Korea in such a manner?
Right, there isn't one. Unless the US opts to stage an all out attack on NK first. And that is not going to happen.
In what scenario do you envisage North Korea attacking South Korea in such a manner?
Right, there isn't one. Unless the US opts to stage an all out attack on NK first. And that is not going to happen.
And let us not forget that Trump is the man who asked why if we had all these lovely nukes we didn't use them. Though only an armchair general, I believe that the only viable option against North Korea in the event of open conflict would be to use tactical/battlefield nuclear weapons to eliminate all that artillery pointed at the South. No other way to do it without costing a great many Korean lives and 28,000 American ones. And my guess is that it would not be difficult to convince Trump of the necessity of using them if the North provides the slightest justification.
And let us not also forget that it would certainly keep us all from paying attention to the Russians and their role in the last election. Not a bad thing from Trump's perspective.
Finally, he will be able tis show the entire world that his hands are not small.
And let us not also forget that it would certainly keep us all from paying attention to the Russians and their role in the last election. Not a bad thing from Trump's perspective.
Finally, he will be able tis show the entire world that his hands are not small.
1
Two unpredictable chest-thumping heads of state, jacked-up by violence, out to fix the other's wagon--this kind of gangland brinkmanship could ignite a global war.
148
Allowing North Korea to develop the means to put a nuclear device on top of an intercontinental ballistic missile -- now THAT is a prescription for global war.
Trump's "strategy" is entirely based upon bettering males that he feels most threatened by, whether it be Obama or Arnold Schwarzenegger, and promoting himself so there is no question in anyone's mind that he has achieved much more than his father thought possible. It's as simple as that. Those who look for deeper thought processes, a conservative agenda, or even coherence will find nothing. The man is an illiterate shell, open to receive information from whatever television show he has just watched or whomever he has most recently spoken with. Let's hope for the sake of the planet that the voices inside his empty head as he faces North Korea are Mattis's and McMaster's.
187
The last President who was competing with his father or his father's image
of him was George W. Bush. And look what that brought down upon the nation
and the world. Let us not also forget that Trump claimed that he alone could fix
everything "wrong" in the country and in the world, this from a man hell-bent on
self-promoting destruction on every front. Trump is likely to become the proud
father of all nuclear catastrophes.
of him was George W. Bush. And look what that brought down upon the nation
and the world. Let us not also forget that Trump claimed that he alone could fix
everything "wrong" in the country and in the world, this from a man hell-bent on
self-promoting destruction on every front. Trump is likely to become the proud
father of all nuclear catastrophes.
Exactly. The man could go off at any minute. Its a very bleak situation to have someone like this at the helm of the ship of state. I fear for the world.
1
Thank you, Mary. You have put in writing what I think of the man, and what I have failed to be able to succinctly convey to other people. I get too worked up!
Trump is slowly learning that he can't be a CEO of the country, as he was in his companies, and simply order people about and threaten them. Look at his astonishment over the system of checks and balances, when a judge vetoed his travel ban that he so proudly displayed. Then he called the judge a "so-called judge."
Seriously, how ignorant is that action, and how does it speak to the Americans who voted for this ignoramus? After his first week in office, the news organizations MSNBC and CNN were talking openly about the man as being "unhinged," and a "pathological liar."
Seriously, how ignorant is that action, and how does it speak to the Americans who voted for this ignoramus? After his first week in office, the news organizations MSNBC and CNN were talking openly about the man as being "unhinged," and a "pathological liar."
145
If examples of him being unhinged and a pathological liar has escaped anybody since his birther derangement was made public, they are not paying attention or are willfully ignorant. That pretty much describes his base.
1
Trump's dangerous game of chicken. When I was young, my friends and I would play "chicken" on our bicycles by riding as fast as we could, head on, toward each other. The first to swerve to avoid colliding was the chicken. Stupid, I know, but we were kids and it was an adrenalin rush. It was fun until, one day, the two nuttiest of my friends refused to swerve and both were badly banged up. Now we have the president of the United States playing chicken with his unhinged, megalomaniac, mirror image in North Korea. This too, I fear, will end badly.
213
This is not a game of chicken - that is a flawed analogy. A game of chicken is over if either party withdraws. In this case North Korea is developing nuclear weapons and missiles to deliver them to America. America has the choice of confronting this threat now, or confronting it later. The choice of bringing the game to an end by withdrawing does not exist.
This reminds me. My little brother and his friend did exactly this. Neither swerved. They ended up in a hospital room together, with one little boy's front tooth in the other's forehead. Sometimes people do not stop. They do not understand the danger. What might be acceptable in little boys is absolutely not acceptable in world leaders. Trump needs to accept the responsibility that his actions now have consequences that throwing millions of dollars at or teams of attorneys at will not work.
2
Unfortunately this is a bad analogy. The better analogy is that North Korea is the bully who takes lunch money through intimidation. Once you have been intimidated into giving him your lunch money once -- there's no alternative but to punch it out ... or give him your lunch money forever.
A Post Easter plea to 45:
You have done plenty of damage within our own country and abroad already.
But please do not jeopardize the lives of millions in a war that could destroy our identity as a nation. Un is a paranoid madman who has no regard for human life and will gladly send his men to their deaths to overrun us in South Korea and send missiles flying who knows where else. If we annihilate him and millions of North Koreans with nuclear weapons our nation's conscience will be forever lost, so please stop this because once you push the button there are no “mulligans”; there is no tuning back and that’s the moment the world as we know it will be no more.
You have done plenty of damage within our own country and abroad already.
But please do not jeopardize the lives of millions in a war that could destroy our identity as a nation. Un is a paranoid madman who has no regard for human life and will gladly send his men to their deaths to overrun us in South Korea and send missiles flying who knows where else. If we annihilate him and millions of North Koreans with nuclear weapons our nation's conscience will be forever lost, so please stop this because once you push the button there are no “mulligans”; there is no tuning back and that’s the moment the world as we know it will be no more.
225
There is no pleading with Trump. He is as dangerous and disordered in the same way Kim is dangerous and disordered. Both are high functioning psychopaths. And both are no good for man nor country.
I feel your anguish; and, I wish I could do something to make it right. But I can't do anything.
We have to leave it up to the NYT's to speak truth to power.
God save us all.
I feel your anguish; and, I wish I could do something to make it right. But I can't do anything.
We have to leave it up to the NYT's to speak truth to power.
God save us all.
But your arguments are narrow and not thought through.
If we leave NKorea proceed they will soon become a nuclear state. Un will just keep demanding more and more and certainly is a child, a maniac and unstable. If we do not stop him now he will soon have a nuclear arsenal to destroy the USA. Some day he will use them on us because he is a child, a maniac and unstable.
So so we just wait until the future when this will destroy the entire world or destroy him and perhaps many of his cities now? The choice is very iffy; all the probabilities are unknown. So do we take the obvious path just described and destroy him now? Perhaps.
But your suggestion that we "wait" and "wait" makes no sense. We must make a decision and the Times editorial makes no sense; it uses the same illogical arguments.
If we leave NKorea proceed they will soon become a nuclear state. Un will just keep demanding more and more and certainly is a child, a maniac and unstable. If we do not stop him now he will soon have a nuclear arsenal to destroy the USA. Some day he will use them on us because he is a child, a maniac and unstable.
So so we just wait until the future when this will destroy the entire world or destroy him and perhaps many of his cities now? The choice is very iffy; all the probabilities are unknown. So do we take the obvious path just described and destroy him now? Perhaps.
But your suggestion that we "wait" and "wait" makes no sense. We must make a decision and the Times editorial makes no sense; it uses the same illogical arguments.
Was wondering why you were referring to Kim as Un, and realized you are probably assuming (and rightly so) that Un is his last name and Kim is his first and Jong as his middle. In South Korea, individual's name are called first by their 'family' name (or surname) and their given name comes second. Hence, Kim is his family name (last name) and Jong Un is his given name (first name). Western society has superimposed their method of reading and writing names, hence many Southeast Asians have referred them selves as first name +last name (Jong Un Kim).
But in the recent days, leaders in South East Asia have been reverse imposing the way their culture read and write their name (rightly so, of course: why should they adhere to Western standards when they have their own culture?), most notably with UN's Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, instead of Ki Moon Ban.
Food for thought.
But in the recent days, leaders in South East Asia have been reverse imposing the way their culture read and write their name (rightly so, of course: why should they adhere to Western standards when they have their own culture?), most notably with UN's Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, instead of Ki Moon Ban.
Food for thought.
First off, we have two children here, trump and Kim Jong-un, playing with their military and talking tough. That alone can lead to a disaster. Second you have the generals on both sides with all these weapons that I am sure they just can not wait to use, think the MOAB. Third, you will have a desperate Kim Jong-un, who must save face, as China starts to cut off things like oil, think Japan and Perl Harbor. I felt safe when President Obama was in charge as he was stable and very conservative with his use of the military, now we have a unstable trump who wants to play macho man. RUN FOR COVER!!
295
Does such a "cover" exists? If yes, the address please....
"... you have the generals on both sides with all these weapons that I am sure they just can not wait to use.."
Wrong. Generals on both sides have seen war and are not anxious to repeat the experience. But a restoration of US deterrence is critical.
Wrong. Generals on both sides have seen war and are not anxious to repeat the experience. But a restoration of US deterrence is critical.
You may have felt safe with Obama in charge but he made no progress with North Korea, which shows every sign of a problem that (i) will not go away, (ii) will become more difficult to deal with as time passes, and (iii) will require a major confrontation to resolve. Would you prefer to delay that confrontation while Kim continues to develop his weapons and missiles? I wouldn't. Do you have a better plan? I doubt it. Trump is doing a good job with this, and with Syria, and with people like Kim and Assad, his image as an unstable "macho man" is an asset.
Up until now it was only Mr. Kim who specialized in issuing empty threats. Now that we have our very own blowhard-in-chief we have a man who can match him empty threat for empty threat. Congrats to us all!
120
Methinks Kim's threats are not empty. A glorious death might well be within his historical desires.
I never thought we'd see someone worse than the "decider."
1
Unfortunately, ours are not empty threats; it all depends upon the military top brass who advise DJT.
So where has Mr. Trump NOT increased tensions, suspicions and actual military actions? Just like it's now "my military", Trump presumes it's his world to play with his "big" toys. Where are the adults?
Depending on the generals to restrain Trump is not likely to tamp down US military involvement. Generals look to military actions, not diplomacy, as the remedy.
Depending on the generals to restrain Trump is not likely to tamp down US military involvement. Generals look to military actions, not diplomacy, as the remedy.
67
After our illegal and disastrous destruction of Iraq it's no wonder that other small countries would want nuclear arms to deter an American invasion. If we approach our dealings with that perspective in mind maybe there could be dialogue between our two countries that could stabilize the peace.
27
Dialogue with North Korea? Interesting. Before or after they have an ICBM with a thermonuclear warhead? No reason to believe a dialogue will accomplish anything more than additional time for the DRK become a greater menace to the world.
How about the 120,000 people being held in North Korean prison camps? What do you think is their opinion about an American "invasion"?
Remember that NK was mentioned by Bush, along with Iraq and Iran as something like a triangle of evil. The results.....Iraq invaded. Iran and NK went nuclear or soon will. So, how are we better off being viewed as a threat?
How about diplomatic diffusion with NK, as the European nations have done with Iran? Pacific Rim nations with China as a backup?
Stop threats, use diplomacy. With Trump...good luck!!!
How about diplomatic diffusion with NK, as the European nations have done with Iran? Pacific Rim nations with China as a backup?
Stop threats, use diplomacy. With Trump...good luck!!!
Does anyone remember when Trump was asked what he liked the most? He replied "To fight! And it doesn't have to be physial, although I don't rule that out".
He truly IS arrested in the stage of a 7th grader and now he has been in office 3 months and he's already taken several situations in which he's "fighting" except 2 of them ARE military and physical.
Yes I know the tragedy of the Syrian civilians suffering and losing their lives and lives of their families, and that Trump knows so much about ISIS that he's helping the Generals, but could he not have waited until at least some other people in our govt agreed with him that "fighting" was warranted?
He told us, and sometimes you just have to LISTEN and believe when someone is telling you the truth about himself. He likes to fight. He's fighting so many things at home and abroad.. (not just military) That is what his Presidency will be about-- fighting to not conform to the dignity of the Office in so many ways. Not releasing tax forms since he doesn't want to show he could only make money selling his name, because all the other ventures ended in failure, and he quickly bought another, and so on, until he had lost so much he was able, in the one year to claim so much loss. He was not successful at what he claims were his strengths. Maybe he will be good at fighting.
He truly IS arrested in the stage of a 7th grader and now he has been in office 3 months and he's already taken several situations in which he's "fighting" except 2 of them ARE military and physical.
Yes I know the tragedy of the Syrian civilians suffering and losing their lives and lives of their families, and that Trump knows so much about ISIS that he's helping the Generals, but could he not have waited until at least some other people in our govt agreed with him that "fighting" was warranted?
He told us, and sometimes you just have to LISTEN and believe when someone is telling you the truth about himself. He likes to fight. He's fighting so many things at home and abroad.. (not just military) That is what his Presidency will be about-- fighting to not conform to the dignity of the Office in so many ways. Not releasing tax forms since he doesn't want to show he could only make money selling his name, because all the other ventures ended in failure, and he quickly bought another, and so on, until he had lost so much he was able, in the one year to claim so much loss. He was not successful at what he claims were his strengths. Maybe he will be good at fighting.
17
The same way that his businesses were built on gambling with other people's money, his fights will be done with our future and, I am afraid, with our children's future.
3
Loose lips sink ships. Remember that from WWII, Mr. Trump? A showdown with North Korea (whose macho traits mirror President Trump's) would bring down the Kim card house of North Korea. That Kim Jong un's missile test fizzled won't prevent him from further ballistic missile tests with nuclear warheads. Hopefully China's Xi Jinping is far more level-headed than our President, who proved his military chops by dropping M.O.A.B. on ISIS tunnels next to Pakistan last week. Something poetic about Xi Jinping's prediction that "storm clouds are gathering". Alas, China's trade with North Korea has expanded, not shrunk. And China's might and main rivals that of America's. But Trump serves "the best chocolate cake in the world" at Mar-a-lago in his hosting pivot to Japan and China.
11
What is North Korea problem? A nuclear state that is trying to develop a long range missile to use against US if attacked by US. Why US will attack North Korea - to stop its missile development program. If you look to this picture - threat of Nirth Korea to our friends Japan or South Korea are not there. The US posture to preemptive attack to North Korea is just only one option to address this problem. There are many other options that can be build if we accept the fact that North Korea will remain a buffer state between Western power and Communist China. It is a similar situation like Ukrine. Let us first try to solve this puzzle by reasoning - is Western power accept a buffer state or wants to integrate Korean Peninsula to directly confront Communist China - a new emerging global power. If North Korea becomes a satellite state of China, the issue of missile threat disappears - China has long range missile and we are not threaten by that. Help China to make North Korea a satellite state by having more control on North Korean military.
6
North Korea is a small country with a big military for its 25 million people. The United States is a big country with a with the biggest military on the planet. North Korea is contained in an area just about the size of Pennsylvania. It is about 6,000 miles from the continental United States, far from approachable by its small navy and air force. The United States has and air force and navy with bases around the world capable of attacking anywhere. North Korea has a nascent nuclear program and has yet to develop a deliverable bomb. The United States has thousands of nuclear weapons which can be delivered anywhere around the world by by missiles fired from submarines or from undergound bunkers in the United States or dropped from strategic bombers which fly continuously around the globe.
Just who poses a threat to whom?
The rhetoric is hostile on both sides. The strategy is clear on both sides. North Korea's defense relies on their ability to strike American allies and bases some 6,000 miles from the American Continent. The United States defense is to obliterate North Korea and kill millions of people in the process.
While there may be much to criticize about North Korea's military posturing, political tyranny and economic failures there has been no military aggression toward its neighbors since 1953.
Just who poses a threat to whom?
The rhetoric is hostile on both sides. The strategy is clear on both sides. North Korea's defense relies on their ability to strike American allies and bases some 6,000 miles from the American Continent. The United States defense is to obliterate North Korea and kill millions of people in the process.
While there may be much to criticize about North Korea's military posturing, political tyranny and economic failures there has been no military aggression toward its neighbors since 1953.
16
Finally, a smart comment. Thank you
Of course every one of those missiles is genuine. None of them are empty shells. They would NEVER do that.
And even more important to note: our republican rulers would never try to instill fear in the American people. Why would they want to do that?
And even more important to note: our republican rulers would never try to instill fear in the American people. Why would they want to do that?
21
Perhaps it is precisely Mr. Trump's loose talk that is now necessary.
Once, North Korea did not possess nuclear weapons, and now it has them, making the country far more dangerous than during its pre-nuclear days. Despite efforts by the international community, North Korea went ahead with its nuclear development.
Currently, it is assumed North Korea has not reached a point where it could attach a nuclear weapon to a long-range missile, but North Korea is working towards that end. The sanction efforts that failed to prevent North Korea getting nuclear weapons are the same ones being deployed again to stop North Korea developing its nuclear missile technology. These efforts will again fail, and thus North Korea will ratchet up its danger quotient.
The North Koreans are determined, having dug at least four infiltration tunnels. The link below shows the interception tunnel dug by South Korea to reach North Korea's Infiltration Tunnel #3, 73 meters below ground.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevebrown1/19490191614/in/photostream/
Once, North Korea did not possess nuclear weapons, and now it has them, making the country far more dangerous than during its pre-nuclear days. Despite efforts by the international community, North Korea went ahead with its nuclear development.
Currently, it is assumed North Korea has not reached a point where it could attach a nuclear weapon to a long-range missile, but North Korea is working towards that end. The sanction efforts that failed to prevent North Korea getting nuclear weapons are the same ones being deployed again to stop North Korea developing its nuclear missile technology. These efforts will again fail, and thus North Korea will ratchet up its danger quotient.
The North Koreans are determined, having dug at least four infiltration tunnels. The link below shows the interception tunnel dug by South Korea to reach North Korea's Infiltration Tunnel #3, 73 meters below ground.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevebrown1/19490191614/in/photostream/
2
Ah yes, the Enemy Du Jour. Don't forget, NK was part of Bush the Feckless' "Axis of Naughty". Once again, we must be so very afraid that we need to beat up on somebody that's much smaller than we are. Blood in the water. Go America!
2
Miss Anne Thrope: Thanks for taking the time to read and to respond to my post. That post conforms to a notion that North Korea poses a threat to its neighbors and to the US, which might in fact be true. But still, I am troubled that a sovereign nation needs to seek approval of its defense posture from nations that themselves did seek approval from anyone. Western thought does not seem to mind having the US as the most powerful nation, because the US is seen as a force for good, while Russia, Iran, China and North Korea are seen as bad actors. The division in viewpoint has its roots in Democracy (free) versus Communism/authoritarianism (not free).
With not many options left to restrain North Korea- the Chinese proxy against the US, as Syria is to Russia- from going belligerent, the only course open to it is to work through an active strategic engagement with China, that itself would avoid any threatening destabilisation of its borders in the Korean peninsula region - the likely consequence of the US-North Korea confrontation. Given their stakes in peace and stability, even the US allies, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan too would never like to see the storm clouds gather over their territories,
3
I agree that a nuclear North Korea -- led by the Kim Jong-un cult -- is dangerous.
However, a Markovian, random-walk foreign policy only adds to the danger especially when Trump insists on being belligerent and unpredictable. It doesn't take a genius to know this is destabilizing. South Korea and our allies have far more to lose in this situation than the DPRK.
We need a consistent and effective strategy _now_. Mr. McMaster?
However, a Markovian, random-walk foreign policy only adds to the danger especially when Trump insists on being belligerent and unpredictable. It doesn't take a genius to know this is destabilizing. South Korea and our allies have far more to lose in this situation than the DPRK.
We need a consistent and effective strategy _now_. Mr. McMaster?
27
Yes, President Trump should tell the North Koreans exactly what America's strategy and actions will be. Brilliant!
3
I, for one, would be pleased if He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named would tell America "what America's strategy and actions will be".
Larry, having a defined, coherent foreign policy doesn't mean telling your adversaries what your tactics will be so there is no need to pretend that is what anyone is advocating. I really hope you get paid to post things like this, otherwise...
2
Two toddlers, both seeking attention and popularity at home, with weapons of mass destruction at their fingertips.
This cannot end well because neither toddler posses the self-discipline and restraint to look at the big picture instead of the immediate gratification of a "win" over the other.
This cannot end well because neither toddler posses the self-discipline and restraint to look at the big picture instead of the immediate gratification of a "win" over the other.
341
You nailed it. Neither deserves the encomium of behaving like a 7th grader. It's way less immature than that.
Righto, NK's Yosemite Sam facing off against America's Foghorn P. Leghorn. Who knew the Looney Tunes theme-song would be the background music for Armageddon?
1
Agreed. I'm also afraid, because neither toddler seems willing to allow the other to save face. Ego, ergo apocalypsis!
1
Thanks to George Bush's axis of evil rhetoric N Korea launched an all out effort to acquire nukes to prevent as David Sanger stated not becoming another Qadafi. The dangerous mercurial N Korean leader is matched against the USs brand of mercurial leader in Trump. The Syrian chemical weapon attack which was perpetrated by al Qaeda but relentlessly attributed by the NYTs to Assad goaded Trump to attack Syria. Now with the fawning press approval of his misguided military strike against Syria Trump feels emboldened to push a confrontational approach to N Korea. Along with the USs relentless anti Russia hysteria the sources of deesculation are limited. Especially since China has fears that if the N Korean regime disappears a unified Korea would cause refugees to swarm to China and place the US military right on China's border.
31
I note that you say that Al Qaeda perpetrated the chemical weapon attack that led to the US bombing in Syria. I know that there have been questions about who actually did it, but you seem so sure that it was not only not the Syrian government, but which group did it. Please cite your sources--thanks.
12
That fear of a wave of refugees has long been used by China to avoid pressure on North Korea, but I wonder why China could not just put its enormous army on the border and deny entrance to fleeing Koreans.
4
Total putin puppetry.
2
On the heels of a very successful Tillerson visit to China and a (presumed) sharing of cheeseburgers with President Xi Jinping of China at Mar-a-Lago, he’s gotten China to chide North Korea for its nuclear provocations and to warn Kim Jong-un about messing with America. And, yes, U.S. warships are headed to North Korea. Please take note of that, Mr. Kim, and that they’re not coming to join in the festivities attendant to a new administration in a real country, South Korea.
So far, Trump’s “loose talk” appears to have accomplished more to draw a line in the kimchi in 100 days than Obama managed to do in his entire eight years. Now, I know that’s troubling to many in America salivating at the prospect of the failure of an American president, but a lot of us here, probably all those “deplorables”, think it’s about time an American president started acting like one.
So far, Trump’s “loose talk” appears to have accomplished more to draw a line in the kimchi in 100 days than Obama managed to do in his entire eight years. Now, I know that’s troubling to many in America salivating at the prospect of the failure of an American president, but a lot of us here, probably all those “deplorables”, think it’s about time an American president started acting like one.
6
I agree, Richard, Trump should start acting like a President, but that's the problem, he is not.
25
@Richard: Wake me up when Kim agrees to destroy his nuclear arsenal.
12
"So far, Trump’s “loose talk” appears to have accomplished more to draw a line in the kimchi in 100 days than Obama managed to do in his entire eight years."
Nonsense. There's probably a reason so many of North Korea's missile launches failed during the Obama era, and this past weekend: Cyber attacks, and Obama likely initiated them.
Nonsense. There's probably a reason so many of North Korea's missile launches failed during the Obama era, and this past weekend: Cyber attacks, and Obama likely initiated them.
14
I have never understood the American policy of wishing for peaceful solutions at the same time as maintaining a policy that doesn't allow us to converse with our enemies.
58
I don't know what planet you are from, but we talk to our enemies all the time, the problem is you and your friends think talking is the same thing as solving, and in the case of North Korea, that has been proven to be a mistaken notion...
1
So this is Trump's achievement in the first hundred days, getting us into a nuclear missile crisis.
233
If only the incompetent traitor Obama had done his job, President Trump wouldn't have to clean up the mess in North Korea he inherited
Well, Obama was the Antichrist. Trump is gonna git us money!
"What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy, something beyond statements and asking China for help."
No, what's missing in the White House is an emotionally and psychological stable adult.
No, what's missing in the White House is an emotionally and psychological stable adult.
577
So by showing off your degree meaning you know what you are talking about? There is a reason why you are not a president. Stop evaluating people mind. We don't need amother shrink.
I'm sure DT will get around to being emotionally and psychologically stable- as soon as he's done bragging about the fabulous chocolate cake he had with the Chinese minister at Mar a Lago.
1
I see a pretty coherent strategy here.
- Use a military show of force to shift the status quo
- Pressure China to exert real pressure on North Korea and destabilize the North Korean economy
- Recognize that North Korea does not negotiate in good faith
- Use a military show of force to shift the status quo
- Pressure China to exert real pressure on North Korea and destabilize the North Korean economy
- Recognize that North Korea does not negotiate in good faith
10
And the US does negotiate in such good faith - the best. Just ask the Afghans.
And Trump or China does? (negotiate in good faith?)
Hard to see how China would act on Trump's words in a discussion as the entire globe has been alternately dismayed and entertained by the constant stream of ridiculous/dishonest Tweets that now pass for WH discourse.
Hard to see how China would act on Trump's words in a discussion as the entire globe has been alternately dismayed and entertained by the constant stream of ridiculous/dishonest Tweets that now pass for WH discourse.
1
The only way that the NK threat will cease is to employ full international sanctions short of military confrontation on China. Usually when such sanctions are employed they are done in stages, piecemeal. What needs to be done is to cut China off from the rest of the world as much and as quickly as possible until the NK threat disappears.
5
China is the world's largest economy, trading with every country on the earth, and you actually think they could be "cut...off from the rest of the world"?
1
Trump's large budget cuts to the Department of State, combined with large increases to the military, pretty much indicated that he and Bannon were preparing for war rather than diplomacy as their preferred strategic instrument of foreign policy. Now we see that his stepped-up aggression against ISIS and dropping the MOAB on Afghanistan, combined with his bellicose bombast on North Korea show that he meant precisely that. The problem is not that Trump has no strategy, but that he has the worst strategy imaginable for dealing with the modern world. Thanks to Bannon.
72
Trump is deploying bombs and missiles. That's his strategy, his modus. It's simple and he understands it. That's the only type of international interaction that the man seems to knows or seems to care about.
1
Trump is not capable of a coherent strategy. When he had an opportunity to learn before President Obama left office,he refused to attend the briefing sessions. I see no hope for this man.
100
This American sees little hope for the Rebuilding and Restoration of America, only an ongoing fascination in how We are reacting to Trump.
1
North Korea knows what is likely to happen if they give up their nuclear weapons. Libya agreed to forego nuclear weapons in 2003, and they subsequently did dismantle their nuclear and chemical weapons programs. North Korea surely can see what happened afterwards, as the NATO powers attacked and left Libya as the fractured mess that it is today. History is likely to have taught the North Koreans that it is likely suicidal for them to do likewise.
As Mr. Trump often tweets: sad. The western powers unfortunately have not provided many reasons to trust the west, and at least this one powerful example of the dangers of nuclear disarmament. The mess is, in great part, of our making.
As Mr. Trump often tweets: sad. The western powers unfortunately have not provided many reasons to trust the west, and at least this one powerful example of the dangers of nuclear disarmament. The mess is, in great part, of our making.
34
Does the parallel between Libya and Korea break down somewhat because of the presence of China as a protector of the peninsula's stability?
"North Korea knows what is likely to happen if they give up their nuclear weapons. Libya agreed to forego nuclear weapons in 2003..."
You're right. But who was it that decided in 2011 that Muammar Gaddafi's regime had to be replaced? That foolish decision is one that comes back to haunt us, but what's done is done. And now our current administration is left with no choice but do whatever may be necessary to confront and firmly deal with a maniac whose intentions and weaponry pose a real threat to ourselves and others beyond his borders -- something Gaddafi did not...
You're right. But who was it that decided in 2011 that Muammar Gaddafi's regime had to be replaced? That foolish decision is one that comes back to haunt us, but what's done is done. And now our current administration is left with no choice but do whatever may be necessary to confront and firmly deal with a maniac whose intentions and weaponry pose a real threat to ourselves and others beyond his borders -- something Gaddafi did not...
1
While much has been said and written about Kim Jong-un, depicting him as an unstable leader who, by virtue of his personality, is a threat to world peace, we might shine a mirror image of our own leader who has done little to establish our confidence. With braggadocious chest-thumping, sabre-rattling and bomb-dropping, Trump has hardly inspired a vision of the pathway to either peace, safety or reconciliation. Two-bullies spouting off and commandeering countries facing each other is a recipe for disaster. I was going to add that at least in our country we have a more stable government, but the GOP has let our president run amok de-stabilizing our well-crafted government machine while focusing on their own power-driven actions that seem more attentive to re-election than operating the nation. We can depict other countries and their issues as dangerous to democracy, but we need to stay attentive to the threat at home. I am as afraid of world reaction to Trump as I am of the actions of his latest protagonist.
148
Consider: the number of people who believe Trump's missile attack on Syria was motivated more by his own self-interest than in a not-before-seen empathy. (Even his own son was crowing that "this proves no Russian ties.)
10
"de-stabilizing our well-crafted government machine" Lol... Well crafted... Good one. It used to be... A long long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... When our population was under more control by smallpox, polio, measles, Tuberculosis, cholera, incurable cancer and child birth often resulting in death... well, that last part hasn't been eradicated, so much as encouraged. Danger to the mother? Nah. Let the innocent live and the sinner die.
The NYT editorial board is advocating and justifying the nuclear option for North Korea. One gets it that a communist North Korea that is failing its people has a long standing fear of being one day attacked by the United States or being over powered by its non nuclear neighbor South Korea. While regional tensions may seem at an all time high, Trump administration has done all the right things so far by warning North Korea of dire consequences if it were to continue to develop a far reaching nuclear program, by assuring South Korea that it stands by South Korea in any armed conflict and by engaging China in restraining its friend and trading partner North Korea. I would urge China to take an initiative to bring together in China the leaders of the 2 Koreas, USA, Russia and Japan for an emergency summit to diffuse the volatile and hostile situation simmering in the Korean Peninsula. Trump administration and Kim should both give peace a chance before doing something drastic and regrettable. Dropping the mother of all bombs on ISIS in Afghanistan or cruise missiles in Syria will not seem the same as attacking North Korea. Kim Jung-Un did not parade his military might exclusively for a show of force. He could well use it and the consequences of that could be felt by South Koreans and others in the region. Don't give him a reason to give US a costly bloody eye and repeat the blunders of Vietnam and Iraq wars.
12
No, Trump has NOT "done all the right things". EVERY diplomat everywhere has warned North Korea for years and years. Trump has given North Korea proof that their paranoia is factual.
2
The strategy- ban all nuclear weapons worldwide, which with Russian agreement would be possible to achieve.
Conventional arms production is a better deal for the military-industrial investment class. That one big bomb cost $16 million!
That's about $400 thousand a corpse. And a Tomahawk cruise missile hacks in at about somewhere like one million each, plus the cost of delivery.
No doubt, the shelf-life dates expired long ago for all of our megaton silo monsters, that Obama, inexplicably arranged to update for future use.
We don't need all that stuff any more. Modern tech-driven conventional weaponry could surpass our WW 2 casualty lists in short order. It would be a better deal. Again, it's all about volume, and even Trump should go for that.
Conventional arms production is a better deal for the military-industrial investment class. That one big bomb cost $16 million!
That's about $400 thousand a corpse. And a Tomahawk cruise missile hacks in at about somewhere like one million each, plus the cost of delivery.
No doubt, the shelf-life dates expired long ago for all of our megaton silo monsters, that Obama, inexplicably arranged to update for future use.
We don't need all that stuff any more. Modern tech-driven conventional weaponry could surpass our WW 2 casualty lists in short order. It would be a better deal. Again, it's all about volume, and even Trump should go for that.
3
Trump has already stated that he wants a race to see who can have the most nuclear weapons. Did you miss that?
2
@ Bruce
$16 million? A myth perpetuated by people who either deliberately or out of ignorance choose to do so. MOAB's are not cheap, that's certain. But they don't cost millions per unit. Most reports, based upon information obtained from the Air Force, indicate that the cost is on the order of $170,000 per unit...
$16 million? A myth perpetuated by people who either deliberately or out of ignorance choose to do so. MOAB's are not cheap, that's certain. But they don't cost millions per unit. Most reports, based upon information obtained from the Air Force, indicate that the cost is on the order of $170,000 per unit...
Interesting, in looking to quote the $300m accurately, I found an article stating $170k. Wonder which news is real. It would make sense for the administration to bump down the expense for appearance sake.
Donald Trump might be re-enacting psycho-neurological patterns of self expression which might have been manifest in early adolescence - - problems with impulse control. His parents decided they needed to send him to a private military school for his high school years. This might have been because his parents thought he needed strict disciplining in order to get hold of himself; and also because they were having difficulty managing his behavior at home and in the community.
Thus, today, if this theory holds, Donald switches from one impulsive decision to another; and, also, Donald achieves control by having high ranking military personnel around him providing him with boundaries and focus and senses of capable assertiveness and power and control, thus re-enacting the psycho-neurological conflicts of his teenager years.
Thus, today, if this theory holds, Donald switches from one impulsive decision to another; and, also, Donald achieves control by having high ranking military personnel around him providing him with boundaries and focus and senses of capable assertiveness and power and control, thus re-enacting the psycho-neurological conflicts of his teenager years.
8
They sent him away---"rejected him" at age 12.
1
"What's missing... is a coherent strategy..."
To be generous, one could say that Trump doesn't believe in having strategies. Strategies limit flexibility and unpredictability. Trump likes to be able to throw everything out the window at a moment's notice.
But just as likely is the possibility that Trump simply isn't smart enough to strategize in the first place. Stategizing requires gathering and analyzing data. Conspiracy theories and "alternative facts" don't make for sound strategic decisions. I'd be surprised if we ever see a coherent strategy from Trump about anything.
To be generous, one could say that Trump doesn't believe in having strategies. Strategies limit flexibility and unpredictability. Trump likes to be able to throw everything out the window at a moment's notice.
But just as likely is the possibility that Trump simply isn't smart enough to strategize in the first place. Stategizing requires gathering and analyzing data. Conspiracy theories and "alternative facts" don't make for sound strategic decisions. I'd be surprised if we ever see a coherent strategy from Trump about anything.
It smells like being defeated to be dependent for solution of the big problem on China, a country which was explicitly announced a threat or enemy country by president at the beginning days of White house. Friendship, animosity, cooperation doesn't always stand on the foundation of business or give and take type of relations often times it becomes more dominant by emotions,
At this point US has already crossed that line, now If I speak a language of diplomacy and dragged you into the chess game, I can not expect you to move you my way. Why would China solve North Korea issue ? if It does US will hit another kick to equalize trade deficit, South china sea issue and many other issues?
So if I does not have upper hand in negotiation , Why don't I go with my decision and go into the action.
At this point US has already crossed that line, now If I speak a language of diplomacy and dragged you into the chess game, I can not expect you to move you my way. Why would China solve North Korea issue ? if It does US will hit another kick to equalize trade deficit, South china sea issue and many other issues?
So if I does not have upper hand in negotiation , Why don't I go with my decision and go into the action.
1
This false administration has been dangerous and reckless with its language, but isolationist until recently. The damage has been contained to within the country. With its growing preoccupation with external affairs, foreign powers are dumping their investigations on the media in order to forestall trump and his cronies from doing unfathomable damage to the world.
They need to be stopped before what is broken can no longer be fixed.
They need to be stopped before what is broken can no longer be fixed.
14
Ah yes, a coherent strategy, that seems very responsible, very sober, befitting of the situation. The problem is there is no strategy available that would meet the NYT's requirements for coherency. If the NYT had its way, this would mean further inaction while North Korea continues to develop its warheads and its missiles.
In fact there is a strategy. Kim Jong-un is isolated and unpredictable and likes to flex his military muscles. So Trump is isolated
and unpredictable and is flexing America's considerably greater, over-whelming greater, military muscles. Kim Jong-un's missiles and bombs don't work, Trump's do, and he has demonstrated that he is willing to use them. Kim might expect to do some damage with a pre-emptive strike, but he will not initiate such a strike if he believes he will face certain annihilation immediately afterwards. Trump is showing him that he will. Kim Jong-un does not want to die.
This is a very high stakes game, however it is played. Better to play it now than 10 years from now. Sometimes one must just act, let the other guy worry about strategy.
In fact there is a strategy. Kim Jong-un is isolated and unpredictable and likes to flex his military muscles. So Trump is isolated
and unpredictable and is flexing America's considerably greater, over-whelming greater, military muscles. Kim Jong-un's missiles and bombs don't work, Trump's do, and he has demonstrated that he is willing to use them. Kim might expect to do some damage with a pre-emptive strike, but he will not initiate such a strike if he believes he will face certain annihilation immediately afterwards. Trump is showing him that he will. Kim Jong-un does not want to die.
This is a very high stakes game, however it is played. Better to play it now than 10 years from now. Sometimes one must just act, let the other guy worry about strategy.
2
". . . . he will not initiate such a strike if he believes he will face certain annihilation immediately afterwards".
Please establish how you know this -- or at least tell us how confident you are. Are you 90 % certain ? Are you 6.3 % certain ? Etc.
Please establish how you know this -- or at least tell us how confident you are. Are you 90 % certain ? Are you 6.3 % certain ? Etc.
5
What evidence do YOU have to state so blithely that Kim Jong Un's "missiles and bombs don't work"?
It sure is a good thing---at least for the millions of South Koreans---that YOU have no power in this situation?
It sure is a good thing---at least for the millions of South Koreans---that YOU have no power in this situation?
3
The US has asked for China's help with North Korea in the past, and China has not been inclined to give it. China is certainly more active on the issue now, and seems to be looking for solutions, and that is because of the moves Trump has made - and i mean all of the moves: the aggressive posturing, the armada in the south china sea, the displays of military power in Syria and Afghanistan, the meeting with Xi Jinping, the cultivation by Trump of his own appearance as an impulsive and aggressive leader.
Of course the option exists to do nothing. If that option is taken, it is reasonable to think North Korea will simply continue to develop and test its nuclear weapons and missiles, and that they will precipitate another crisis when they have made more progress. Is that what you would prefer? If you were a South Korean, what would you advocate? Would you chose to take the risk of action now, or later? These are scary questions to be sure. What do you say?
Of course the option exists to do nothing. If that option is taken, it is reasonable to think North Korea will simply continue to develop and test its nuclear weapons and missiles, and that they will precipitate another crisis when they have made more progress. Is that what you would prefer? If you were a South Korean, what would you advocate? Would you chose to take the risk of action now, or later? These are scary questions to be sure. What do you say?
It is safe to say that Mr. Trump by himself has no strategy to speak of, just machismo and bluster. Unless and until a trusted group of his staff are able to articulate and maintain a sensible strategy, we cannot trust that the US would not get into unneeded and dangerous conflicts with irrational and inflamed opponents. The question then is who in his staff can keep him in check. While Mathis and McMaster are well experienced, they likely have a predisposition for military methods which will lead to more aggression and less diplomacy. Tillerson and Haley, both unfamiliar with international matters, are not sufficient counterweights to push for diplomacy over war. What is much more disastrous is rank amateurs like Bannon, Kushner, Miller, Conway and Ivanka advising Trump on these matters about which they know next to nothing and which can easily get US into a disastrous and uncontrolled conflict. Given all this, the prognosis for the US to avoid a strategic corner from which war is the only way out seems regrettably slim.
12
This is shaping up to be a no-win situation for those of us who want to restore a regime of sanity, decency, and security in America.
It's out of the question to hope that President Trump's reckless gambit with North Korea fails catastrophically.
But if it succeeds in precipitating regime change in North Korea, or forcing that country into making concessions, or otherwise removing the current threat without terrible consequences -- that will be catastrophic, too. By a throw of the dice, a man who is patently unfit to be president will have placed himself above criticism even with many people who are not now his supporters. What can you say to a Donald Trump who has a success like that to his credit, however wrong he was to gamble a multitude of human lives for it?
A third possibility, that Trump will be forced to back down, may avoid an outright catastrophe. However, it will damage American prestige and influence everywhere in the world while increasing the power of North Korea's baby tyrant to intimidate the other countries of the region.
Let's hope for a fourth possibility: that nobody clearly loses face, the storm clouds pass, and negotiations are deferred to a later date when they can't be claimed as the fruits of Trump's dare. If that's too tall an order, well, the third possibility will have to do.
http://thefamilyproperty.blogspot.jp/
It's out of the question to hope that President Trump's reckless gambit with North Korea fails catastrophically.
But if it succeeds in precipitating regime change in North Korea, or forcing that country into making concessions, or otherwise removing the current threat without terrible consequences -- that will be catastrophic, too. By a throw of the dice, a man who is patently unfit to be president will have placed himself above criticism even with many people who are not now his supporters. What can you say to a Donald Trump who has a success like that to his credit, however wrong he was to gamble a multitude of human lives for it?
A third possibility, that Trump will be forced to back down, may avoid an outright catastrophe. However, it will damage American prestige and influence everywhere in the world while increasing the power of North Korea's baby tyrant to intimidate the other countries of the region.
Let's hope for a fourth possibility: that nobody clearly loses face, the storm clouds pass, and negotiations are deferred to a later date when they can't be claimed as the fruits of Trump's dare. If that's too tall an order, well, the third possibility will have to do.
http://thefamilyproperty.blogspot.jp/
7
North Koreans from birth have been told that the Kim dynasty is there because they are gods. Have you noticed there is no offspring of Kim Jong Un to "take over" in case of regime change. You are expecting the brainwashed populace to think radically different from what they have been told their entire lives.
Are you talking about the North Koreans or the Americans? Seems like a lot of Trump supporters think he is god, too.
Read William Perry's piece on "How to make a deal with North Korea" in Politico. We need a little continuity here in our approach, and no one knows the subject better than Bill Perry.
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/north-korea-nuclear-deal-...
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/north-korea-nuclear-deal-...
5
North Korea has an estimated population of 25 million people. Let's suppose the military represents 20% of that population, 5 million. If one MOAB bomb costing $16 million dollars killed 94 militants in Afghanistan, how many bombs, at what cost would be required to kill 5 million soldiers? Do the math! Then, add the political costs to relationships with China, Russia, South Korea, and Japan.
3
You need to add more variables to your math, like population density at the point of the bomb strike, to compare Afghanistan to North Korea.
"Reinforcing North Korea's longstanding fear that it could one day be attacked by America, the very reason North Korea invested in a nuclear arsenal in the first place".
America did just that in 1950 followed by a massive Chinese intervention which saved North Korea leading to the situation we have today. In the years between 1950 and 2017, the Chinese have become a major world economic player and if our leader will stop tweeting, puffing up his chest and laying eggs, he might consider close co-operation with the obvious primary economic, diplomatic and military force in the area to defuse, minimally, this particular crisis.
For this kind of reasoned response, I am hoping the generals surrounding him are advising him wisely. Unfortunately, with his cruise missile/MOAB "off the cuff" so called strategy seeming to gain him some cheers from the public, attacking North Korea might just be the "tonic" to sooth his ego with South Korea and Japan paying an ultimate price.
China may have been using Kim Jong-un to distract everybody from their attempts at hegemony in the South China Sea but even Sun Tzu, their 3rd Century B.C.E. philosopher of war, would caution them to rein in their puppet before a real, shooting war begins.
As Churchill commented "Jaw, jaw is better than war, war" with diplomacy as important now as it ever has been in history.
America did just that in 1950 followed by a massive Chinese intervention which saved North Korea leading to the situation we have today. In the years between 1950 and 2017, the Chinese have become a major world economic player and if our leader will stop tweeting, puffing up his chest and laying eggs, he might consider close co-operation with the obvious primary economic, diplomatic and military force in the area to defuse, minimally, this particular crisis.
For this kind of reasoned response, I am hoping the generals surrounding him are advising him wisely. Unfortunately, with his cruise missile/MOAB "off the cuff" so called strategy seeming to gain him some cheers from the public, attacking North Korea might just be the "tonic" to sooth his ego with South Korea and Japan paying an ultimate price.
China may have been using Kim Jong-un to distract everybody from their attempts at hegemony in the South China Sea but even Sun Tzu, their 3rd Century B.C.E. philosopher of war, would caution them to rein in their puppet before a real, shooting war begins.
As Churchill commented "Jaw, jaw is better than war, war" with diplomacy as important now as it ever has been in history.
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If the campaign is protracted, the resources of the state will not be equal to the strain…then no man however wise will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.
Sun Tsu- the art of war
Sun Tsu- the art of war
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Lies are approved Times comments now?
After the US had left the peninsula, on June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea with the support of Russia and China. Some may remember that once upon a time there was something called the Cold War. The UN got involved.
Regardless. Lies are lies.
After the US had left the peninsula, on June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea with the support of Russia and China. Some may remember that once upon a time there was something called the Cold War. The UN got involved.
Regardless. Lies are lies.
Experience matters.
Trump and his chosen team for international affairs have NO experience.
Playing mind-games among unstable actors who possess nuclear weapons may end up very badly. And the resulting shocks to the global economy in the aftermath of a nuclear exchange on the Korean peninsula will affect everyone.
Trump and his chosen team for international affairs have NO experience.
Playing mind-games among unstable actors who possess nuclear weapons may end up very badly. And the resulting shocks to the global economy in the aftermath of a nuclear exchange on the Korean peninsula will affect everyone.
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MOAB may be useful in showing North Korea our bunker busting capabilities but our fecklessness in so many other areas only encourages their defensiveness.
Now that we've cried regime change, too many times ending with a worse situation, we may have a case where it might have been useful.
Now that we've cried regime change, too many times ending with a worse situation, we may have a case where it might have been useful.
Kim Jong-un and his predecessors have used the "we've got enemies" gambit to build a militaristic autocratic state and emperor's cult while neglecting the needs of his people. Trump seems drawn into this adversary game of mutual threats. Obama "de-escalated" the Iranian defensive nuclear game with incentives to cooperate with good results at least for now. Generally, negative sanctions simply make people angrier and have limited success. Kim Jong-un plays a game of chicken but could back down with the right incentives. Direct negotiation with the emphasis on de-escalation is better than the blustering of the chicken game whose results can lead to "mistakes" or "miscalculations."
we hope that Mr.Trump uplift sanctions against North Korea, and make peace instead.
the people there are fed up with you.
please once in this age make peace.
the people there are fed up with you.
please once in this age make peace.
The Cuban Missile Crisis started because Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was extremely unimpressed with American President John F. Kennedy at a Summit meeting in Vienna in 1961. Sensing that Kennedy was a lightweight, Khrushchev thought he could roll Kennedy and gain leverage over America. Khrushchev was annoyed that the USA had missiles in Turkey pointed at the USSR, so he thought he would annoy the USA by putting nuclear missiles aimed at America in Cuba. Although the popular "history" is that Kennedy stood up to Khrushchev in the denouement of the crisis, it is usually omitted that the USA withdrew the missiles from Turkey as a price of de-escalating the crisis. The moral is that if Kennedy had looked strong to Khrushchev in Vienna, the Cuban missile crisis probably would not have occurred.
Kim Jong-Un is trying to blackmail America and its Asian allies to gain food and other necessities to stay in power. He knows that if he uses his nuclear weapons, he will lose his China ally and America will remove him from power. For Kim, over caution and indecision are a provocation as they were with Khrushchev. The only way to keep him in check is to make it very clear that his blackmail will not work and that he will be destroyed if he attacks America or his neighbors. The surest way to start a crisis with North Korea is to display weakness.
Kim Jong-Un is trying to blackmail America and its Asian allies to gain food and other necessities to stay in power. He knows that if he uses his nuclear weapons, he will lose his China ally and America will remove him from power. For Kim, over caution and indecision are a provocation as they were with Khrushchev. The only way to keep him in check is to make it very clear that his blackmail will not work and that he will be destroyed if he attacks America or his neighbors. The surest way to start a crisis with North Korea is to display weakness.
According to candidate Trump, Obama was at fault for showing his hand to the enemy. He often would use that to ridicule and his simple-minded supporters fell for that hook line and sinker. But now President Trump (two words that should not go together, as Colbert often notes) tweets at an hourly rate telling the whole world about his latest peeve. Is he not showing his hand? I wonder. But his supporters are thrilled that America flexed her muscles, not bothering to worry about the downstream effects of such macho posturing. To Trump and his acolytes thumping on one's chest is what makes America Great Again.
This is precisely why we needed someone with real policy and diplomatic experience, namely Hillary Clinton. It's a world of woe and trigger happy novices are a shaky substitute.
I doubt China ever thought the day would come when they would be required to be the grown-up in the room but congrats that day has arrived. Kim Jong-un and Trump are both wealthy narcissists with something to prove. They are both self destructive and unlikely to back down from a fight.
Right now North Korea is testing the waters to see what they can get away with. They've done so with every president during the first few months in office to see what our newly elected president will and won't put up with.
But Trump is a shoot first and ask questions later kind of President. He's very unpopular and that generally means a new war to distract us from policies that we don't like. He's likely to start something just to distract us from investigating his ties to Russia during the election and his refusal to release his taxes.
Right now the world needs to realize that they can't rely on America as they have in the past. China is going to need to control North Korea. NATO and the UN is going to need to try to diffuse things on the American side.
Right now North Korea is testing the waters to see what they can get away with. They've done so with every president during the first few months in office to see what our newly elected president will and won't put up with.
But Trump is a shoot first and ask questions later kind of President. He's very unpopular and that generally means a new war to distract us from policies that we don't like. He's likely to start something just to distract us from investigating his ties to Russia during the election and his refusal to release his taxes.
Right now the world needs to realize that they can't rely on America as they have in the past. China is going to need to control North Korea. NATO and the UN is going to need to try to diffuse things on the American side.
The big question is how much control does China exert over North Korea. Maybe a lot, and maybe North Korea is doing exactly what China wants. Using North Korea as a Pitbull to threaten America so China can use the carrot of controlling them to get the US to back down on trade and currency issues is certainly the result of what’s going on, even if it is only speculation that it is an intentional strategy between these two allies. Every President since Clinton has fallen for it.
If I were South Korean or Japanese I would be worried with Trump in the White House. He isn’t smart enough or inclined to handle this diplomatically.
There is only one thing more dangerous than a wounded animal and that is a failing politician in control of the biggest military on earth.
If I were South Korean or Japanese I would be worried with Trump in the White House. He isn’t smart enough or inclined to handle this diplomatically.
There is only one thing more dangerous than a wounded animal and that is a failing politician in control of the biggest military on earth.
The flattening of North Korea by the U.S. in the nineteen fifties when almost three quarters of a million tons of bombs were dropped might have something to do with its national mindset .
We cannot and will not get anything in the way of a "coherent strategy" out of the white House because we have no coherent president in it. We elected someone who lacks a coherent brain and mind. Writing about the need for a coherent strategy is not just a waste of time and an unrealistic expectation but a way of being complicit by passive resignation. We need, instead, to support M. Waters in her demand for impeachment.
On the heels of a very successful Tillerson visit to China and a (presumed) sharing of cheeseburgers with President Xi Jinping of China at Mar-a-Lago, he’s gotten China to chide North Korea for its nuclear provocations and to warn Kim Jong-un about messing with America. And, yes, U.S. warships are headed to North Korea. Please take note of that, Mr. Kim, and that they’re not coming to join in the festivities attendant to a new administration in a real country, South Korea.
So far, Trump’s “loose talk” appears to have accomplished more to draw a line in the kimchi in 100 days that Obama managed to do in his entire eight years. Now, I know that’s troubling to an editorial staff that is salivating at the prospect of the failure of an American president, but a lot of us here in Amurka, probably all those “deplorables”, think it’s about time an American president started acting like one.
So far, Trump’s “loose talk” appears to have accomplished more to draw a line in the kimchi in 100 days that Obama managed to do in his entire eight years. Now, I know that’s troubling to an editorial staff that is salivating at the prospect of the failure of an American president, but a lot of us here in Amurka, probably all those “deplorables”, think it’s about time an American president started acting like one.
The President should hire Colin Powell and leave the serious issue of dealing with North Korea to him. Trump can then concentrate on tweeting insults to actors and liberals and playing golf.
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Colin Powell could return to the UN and have a repeat performance of his Iraqi speech, only this time he could lie about North Korea. Yes, this liar would fit right in with rest of Trump's hand-picked losers.
"Mr. Trump needs to be firm, not reckless in his talk, ratchet up sanctions and find a way to engage the North in negotiations. "
Is this a viable request? When has Mr. Trump displayed rational language in his dealings with adversaries?
I'm getting the sense that he rather enjoys escalating tensions and playing Mr. Tough Guy. He's done so all his life, in sometimes unsavory business dealings, but now he's head of state with all the complex weaponry at his command.
Watching his recent behavior reminds me of a toddler who gets approval and applause for a certain behavior, and then can't stop until he's just plain obnoxious. Seeing Donald Trump revel in commanding our military to bomb Syria and then "drop the mother of all bombs" makes my hair stand on end.
The more Trump tweets, the twitchier Kim Jong un gets. These are two toddlers on the world stage heading for collision.
The more both men act convinced they need a political or military win to bolster their image and control over their citizenry, the greater the risk of miscalculation as the Board points out.
Since both men have problems at home--one enslaves his people, the other's popularity unprecedented for a new administration-- I simply don't see this ending well.
Is this a viable request? When has Mr. Trump displayed rational language in his dealings with adversaries?
I'm getting the sense that he rather enjoys escalating tensions and playing Mr. Tough Guy. He's done so all his life, in sometimes unsavory business dealings, but now he's head of state with all the complex weaponry at his command.
Watching his recent behavior reminds me of a toddler who gets approval and applause for a certain behavior, and then can't stop until he's just plain obnoxious. Seeing Donald Trump revel in commanding our military to bomb Syria and then "drop the mother of all bombs" makes my hair stand on end.
The more Trump tweets, the twitchier Kim Jong un gets. These are two toddlers on the world stage heading for collision.
The more both men act convinced they need a political or military win to bolster their image and control over their citizenry, the greater the risk of miscalculation as the Board points out.
Since both men have problems at home--one enslaves his people, the other's popularity unprecedented for a new administration-- I simply don't see this ending well.
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The problem we have, which was obvious during the campaign, is that Trump believes that he can bend other leaders/nations to his will simply because he wants to do that. The Trump narrative is that Obama did nothing at all anywhere - at least nothing of value - and that everything is a mess just waiting for the grand sweep of Trump's huge personality to bring the world to heel and to fix everything. Although many programs, e.g. cyber-interference and sanctions with N. Korea, have bee operational for years, Trump will need/claim 100% of the credit from last Nov onward.
The riskiest piece is that he is impulsive. Because he strongly believes in the might & power narrative, he seems to believe that military blasts (see missiles in Syria and MOAB in Afghanistan) solve problems AND, maybe most importantly, will make even the likes of Kim Jung Uh quake in awe of all things Trump. Hopefully, calmer, less thin skinned and less impulsive voices in the administration will prevail.
The riskiest piece is that he is impulsive. Because he strongly believes in the might & power narrative, he seems to believe that military blasts (see missiles in Syria and MOAB in Afghanistan) solve problems AND, maybe most importantly, will make even the likes of Kim Jung Uh quake in awe of all things Trump. Hopefully, calmer, less thin skinned and less impulsive voices in the administration will prevail.
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There are several problems with your logic, namely: (i) Obama did solve very little, as witness the recent chemical weapons attack in Syria and the missile testing and threatened nuclear test in North Korea; (ii) the US missiles fired on Syria, the MOAB in Afghanistan and the armada in the South China sea do seem to be solving problems; (iii) your comments and criticisms lead nowhere but to continuing war in Syria and continuing military build-up in North Korea. Kim will quake, he does not want to die. China will force a solution. There may be great risk in confronting these situations now, but there may be even greater risk in delaying the confrontation.
I don't know how many people remember Trump in the '80s. I sure do, and that's how old I am. He was exactly as despicable and narcisstic then as he is now. And his hair, believe it or not, was even worse then. The Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Dave Barry used to refer to it as "the possum" on his head, haha.
Donald Trump, combining his ignorance of politics and diplomacy with his own despicable and thin-skinned self and his continuing bad hairstyle is about the most horrifying thing I can imagine for America, its reputation, and our ongoing ability to fight terrorism.
Donald Trump, combining his ignorance of politics and diplomacy with his own despicable and thin-skinned self and his continuing bad hairstyle is about the most horrifying thing I can imagine for America, its reputation, and our ongoing ability to fight terrorism.
@Anne-Marie, it's too bad elections have consequences, I seriously doubt we will prevail with calmer voices.
"What’s missing in the White House is a coherent strategy, something beyond statements and asking China for help. Mr. Trump needs to be firm, not reckless in his talk, ratchet up sanctions and find a way to engage the North in negotiations."
No, the US cannot negotiate with North Korea. We did that, and Bush cheated on the deal. Now the US has nothing left to offer, just demands that the North make itself more vulnerable to the US.
We have exhausted "firm." Threats from here are not "firm" but foolhardy. If we are going to war, we should just do it. If we don't want that, we must not talk as if we are about to do it.
Ratcheting up sanctions is not possible. We have nothing left to sanction. China does, but it is not in our power to ratchet that up, and China is far to powerful for that to become within our power.
The solution is to go past "asking China for help." Instead, we must offer China our help. We must make it China's problem, since they are also threatened, and actually have the ability to do something about it.
That means more than just saying it is China's problem. It means negotiating, not with the North but with China. Negotiate with China an end state acceptable to China, that they think they can get to.
Likely this would mean accepting China's concerns about a neutral Korea, and acceptance of its security concerns about an area just a few hundred miles from its own Beijing heartland. That is really pretty reasonable, even if more than we want to do.
No, the US cannot negotiate with North Korea. We did that, and Bush cheated on the deal. Now the US has nothing left to offer, just demands that the North make itself more vulnerable to the US.
We have exhausted "firm." Threats from here are not "firm" but foolhardy. If we are going to war, we should just do it. If we don't want that, we must not talk as if we are about to do it.
Ratcheting up sanctions is not possible. We have nothing left to sanction. China does, but it is not in our power to ratchet that up, and China is far to powerful for that to become within our power.
The solution is to go past "asking China for help." Instead, we must offer China our help. We must make it China's problem, since they are also threatened, and actually have the ability to do something about it.
That means more than just saying it is China's problem. It means negotiating, not with the North but with China. Negotiate with China an end state acceptable to China, that they think they can get to.
Likely this would mean accepting China's concerns about a neutral Korea, and acceptance of its security concerns about an area just a few hundred miles from its own Beijing heartland. That is really pretty reasonable, even if more than we want to do.
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The lesson of the Bush administration's bungled handling of the Agreed Framework isn't that negotiations with North Korea should be off the table. It's that any US administration, particularly one that's as inept as the one currently in office, shouldn't force a confrontation. "If we are going to war, we should just do it," sounds like something Donald Trump might write in one of his mindless tweets.
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It's actually something he'd accuse Clinton of doing.
Yes. And let's go a step further and let them claim the Spratlys if they resolve the problem with N Korea. Duterte likes China better than the US anyway.
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So, here we are in 2017 having the same nightmares our parents and grandparents had decades ago, back in the days of duck-and-cover, atmospheric tests, fallout shelters, iodine pills, and Khrushchev's missiles. But instead of a cool-headed JFK at the helm, we have ill-informed neophytes such as Tillerson and Trump, saber-rattling and projecting bullying and bluster. God help us all.